UC-NRLF 


OF  TOE 

UNIVE]  SITY 

OF 


HISTORY 


OF  THE 


MILITARY   CANTEEN 


BY 


LIEUT. -COL.   PHILIP  READE 
Inspector  General  U.  S.  V. 

(Major  4th  U.  S.  Infantrv) 


Published  by  authority  of 

THE  HON.,  THE  SECRETARY  OF  WAR 


/ j  «  publication  permitted  by  the  Secretary  of  War  of  reports 
made  to  the  Inspector  General  of  the  Army,  during  the  months  of  Sep- 
tember, October,  and  November,  1900,  by  Lieut. -Colonel  Philip  Reade^ 
Inspector  General,  U.  S.  V.,  (Majot  4th  Jj.  S.  Infantry),  regarding  the 
Regulation  Canteen  and  other  canteens  presented  for  trial  with  reference 
to  their  fitness  for  use  in  the  military  service. 


PRINTED   BY  ^  COPYRIGHT, 

C.  J.  BURROUGHS,  I9oi. 

CHICAGO.  By  PHILIP  READE. 


REPORT  UPON  ARMY  CANTEENS 


LIEUT.  COL.  PHILIP  READE,  I.  G.,  U.  S.  V., 

(MAJOR  4TH  u.  s.  INFANTRY) 
Inspector  General,  Department  of  Dakota. 

At  the  beginning  of  the  last  century,  and  for  some  years  after, 
the  soldier's  canteen  was  a  wooden,  drum-shaped  affair,  provided 
with  a  nozzle.  (See  cut  p.  120.) 

To  now  return  to  that  shape  and  adopt  a  hollow  cylinder,  modeled 
after  a  drum  for  packing  figs  in,  would  be  an  advance  backwards. 

The  history  of  mankind  is  the  history  of  the  development  of 
weapons  and  equipment  for  war  by  improvements,  in  which  one 
nation  has  overcome  another  and  survived. 

Within  a  few  months  from  now  our  military  organization  will 
have  been  readjusted.  The  arms  and  equipments  to  be  necessitated 
by  the  increase  in  numbers  of  our  permanent  military  establishment 
should  be  new  and  not  of  the  nineteenth  century  pattern. 

P>y  July,  1901,  perhaps  60,000  canteens  now  carried  by,  or  in  the 
possession  of,  United  States  Volunteers  and  Regulars  will  have  been 
turned  in.  Some  of  these  canteens  wall  be  suspended  by  the  returned 
volunteers  beside  the  obsolete  muzzle-loading  firearms  of  the  civil  war 
period,  and  some  may  find  their  way  into  the  museums  for  the  col- 
lection and  display  of  archaic  military  weapons  and  equipments. 

From  being  an  inconsequential  article  of  a  soldier's  personal 
equipment  the  canteen  has  become,  in  fact,  one  of  the  most  impor- 
tant articles,  because  connected  with  hygienic  considerations;  in 
other  words,  because  it  carries  water  and  because  the  majority  of 
our  troops  are  in  localities  where  good  water  is  of  prime  considera- 
tion to  health. 

Those  who  live  a  comparatively  fixed  life  can  hardly  weigh 
aright  the  importance  of  a  good  canteen. 

Since  the  microbe  or  germ  theory  has  come  into  the  discussion  of 
hygienic  conditions,  we  have  learned  why  it  is  that  bad  water  is  the 
most  dangerous  liquid  one  can  drink  ;  that  the  denizen  of  places  fitted 
with  filtering  devices,  sterilizing  appliances,  faucets,  hydrants,  water 
valves,  pipes,  aqueducts,  cooling  refrigerators,  icehouses,  etc.,  can 

3 


4  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

guard  against  micro-organisms  and  temper  the  water  to  suit  his 
palate;  the  soldier  can  not  so  guard  himself  in  the  field  or  on  cam- 
paign, or  on  the  march. 

If  the  former  could  only  get  water  by  journeying  to  the  town 
pump,  or  well  having  a  pole,  or  piece  of  timber,  moved  on  a  fulcrum 
or  post,  used  to  raise  and  lower  a  bucket  in  the  well  for  laboriously 
drawing  water  by  hand,  he  would  feel  it  an  'annoying  hardship.  We 
have  relegated  the  well-sweep,  but  hung  on  to  the  canteen  of  con- 
temporaneous antiquity. 

People  who  always  live  in  houses  and  sleep  in  beds  and  walk  on 
pavements  and  ride  in  street  cars,  and  who  get  their  food  from  butch- 
ers, bakers,  grocers,  or  restaurants,  and  who  always  have  access  to 
unlimited  quantities  of  good  water,  don't  appreciate — they  can't 
appreciate — water,  because  it  is  as  free  as  air. 

The  circumstances  of  their  existence  are  too  mathematical  and 
secure.  They  are  boarders  in  this  world.  Everything  is  done  for 
them  by  somebody  else.  They  live  at  second  or  third  hand.  They 
get  their  excitement  out  of  the  newspapers.  If  the  weather  is  bad, 
they  are  snugly  housed.  If  it  is  cold,  there  is  a  furnace  in  the  cellar. 
If  they  are  hungry,  the  shops  are  neaf  at  hand.  They  might  as  well 
be  brought  up  in  an  incubator. 

But  where  man  abides  in  the  fields,  after  the  manner  of  soldiers 
in  campaign,  he  learns  that  his  best  friends  are  his  arms,  his  blanket, 
and  his  rations ;  the  last  named  are  not  any  more  important  than  his 
filled  canteen. 

Napoleon  said:  "There  are  five  things  from  which  the  soldier 
must  never  be  separated — his  gun,  his  cartridges,  his  knapsack,  his 
provisions  for  at  least  four  days,  and  his  pioneer  tool.  Let  the  knap- 
sack be  reduced  to  the  smallest  size ;  let  him  carry  in  it  a  shirt,  a  pair 
of  shoes,  a  stock,  a  handkerchief,  a  tinder  box,  but  let  him  have  it 
always  with  him,  for,  once  separated  from  him,  it  never  returns." 

It  is  submitted  that  a  man  will  retain  things  for  the  preservation 
of  his  own  life  longer  than  he  will  retain  things  for  the  taking  of 
life.  Hence  he  will  hold  on  to  his  provisions  longer  than  he  will 
retain  implements,  such  as  his  gun,  cartridges,  knapsack,  pioneer 
tool,  or  even  his  "stock."  In  other  words,  the  soldier  will  include 
his  canteen  as  one  of  his  best  friends.  He  is  never  prodigal  with  his 
water  when  inured  to  war  experiences.  City  dwellers  who  know 
that  there  is  always  plenty  more  in  the  pipes  do  not  appreciate  this 
last  fact. 

A  soldier  in  barracks,  with  water  closets  and  baths,  requires  25 
gallons  of  water  per  day.  Without  water  closets  and  baths  he 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY   CANTEEN. 


6  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

requires  10  gallons  of  water  per  day.    In  stationary  camps,  5  gallons 
per  head  for  all  purposes  is  required. 

A  soldier  requires  on  the  inarch,  for  drinking  and  cooking,  6 
pints  a  day,  increased  in  a  hot  climate  to  8  pints,  and  an  equal  amount 
for  washing  the  person. 

The  foregoing  are  the  lowest  figures.  The  hygienic  preparations 
for  a  campaign,  either  for  the  foot  or  mounted  soldier,  include  a  con- 
sideration of  many  rules  and  precautions  that  are  unavoidably  broken 
or  impaired  by  war,  but  the  three  requisites  of  a  camping  grounds 
are  water,  fuel  and  forage. 

Bad  water  is  the  most  dangerous  liquid  one  can  drink. 

The  soldier  is  not  dressed  or  outfitted  in  obedience  to  caprices  of 
fashion,  but  in  accordance  with  the  rules  of  hygiene. 

All  camping  grounds  are  not  near  to  running  streams,  or  water. 
Marches  must  be  limited  to  the  human  strength  and  necessities,  both 
as  regards  travel  and  rest,  rations  and  water. 

During  the  period  immediately  following  the  capitulation  oi 
Santiago,  July,  1898,  the  Fifth  Army  Corps  obtained  its  water  from 
the  San  Juan  river,  less  than  a  mile  away,  by  means  of  canteens. 
Stalwart,  fever-stricken  men  went  thirsty  because  they  shrank  from 
the  physical  exertion  involved  in  walking  down  a  hill  a  few  hundred 
yards  and  then  stagger  back  with  a  load  of  filled  canteens.  Aching 
heads  and  flushing  faces  were  relieved  by  water,  but  the  fluid  appli- 
cation was  a  costly  one. 

Soldiers,  insane  from  heat,  exhaustion  and  fatigue,  reeled  into 
any  kind  of  shelter  and  would  there  lie  prostrate  and  gasp,  their 
canteens  by  their  side — empty.  Sights  like  these>  and  personal 
deprivation,  quicken  one's  conception  and  appreciation. 

General  Viscount  Wolseley  in  his  "Soldier's  Pocket  Book  for 
Field  Service,"  edition  1886,  includes  in  the  list  of  articles  to  be  worn 
on  the  person  a  drinking  cup  and  water  bottle.  He  says :  "The  best 
water  bottles  are  those  made  of  ebonite  and  covered  with  felt.  Those 
holding  a  little  less  than  i  Yz  pints  weigh,  when  empty,  13^  ounces  ; 
when  full,  2  pounds  3^  ounces.  Our  regulation  water  bottle,  that  is 
of  wood,  holds  i  and  1-3  pints;  weighs  when  empty,  i  pound  and 
?  ounce;  when  full,  2  pounds  10  ounces.  Leather  water  bottle 
used  in  Nile  expedition,  weighs  2  pounds.  Moving  across  a  desert, 
the  first  and  greatest  difficulty  is  water.  You  must  provide  for  the 
carriage  of  at  least  i  gallon  per  man  per  diem,  with  a  surplus  of 
spare  water  of  25  per  cent,  or  whatever  your  calculation  amounts  to. 
In  calculating  the  quantity  of  water  required  per  man  for  drinking 
and  cooking,  it  may  be  put  down  as  six  pints  in  temperate,  and  eight 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  7 

pints  in  tropical  climates.  On  desert  journeys  in  summer,  when 
hot  winds  blow,  a  man  requires  two  gallons  a  day,  but  in  autumn 
or  winter  three  pints  a  day  are  sufficient." 

At  Tientsin,  China,  July  13,  1900,  where  Col.  Emerson  H.  Lis- 
cum,  ninth  infantry,  was  killed,  Lieutenant  Abraham  Loeb  reports 
that  the  regiment  lay  all  day  in  salt  water,  mud  up  to  their  waists, 
under  a  hot  sun.  "Water  gave  out,"  he  states,  "and  the  men  in  their 
frenzied  attempts  to  quench  their  burning  thirst,  would  drink  that 
dirty  salt  water,  supplying  it  in  short  mouth fuls,  as  it  eddied  about 
their  forms." 

Regarding  the  lack  of  water  at  Tientsin,  the  New  York  Sun's 
correspondent  reports  :  "One  thing  this  day  should  teach  the  Ameri- 
can army,  one  little  thing  of  great  importance.  I  have  seen  six 
different  breeds  of  man  go  into  battle  today.  Every  one  of  them 
except  the  American  had  some  contrivance  for  getting  extra  water 
%to  the  field.  It  has  been  a  fearfully  hot  day  and  the  men  have  suf- 
fered greatly  for  water.  Our  men  are  notoriously  prodigal  of  the 
contents  of  their  canteens.  They  hadn't  been  on  the  line  two  hours 
before  they  were  running  out,  and  the  cry  went  up  for  more.  But 
there  was  no  way  to  get  more.  The  British,  French,  and  Japanese 
had  their  donkey  carts  or  mules  packed  with  breakers,  but  the 
Americans  had  nothing  and  their  men  had  to  suffer  and  stand  it 
as  best  they  could.  It  is  no  very  great  reform  to  make,  but  it  counts 
afield." 

Major  William  I).  Beach,  Inspector  General  U.  S.  V.,  (Captain 
3d  U.  S.  Cavalry),  Inspector  General  Dept.  of  Southern  Luzon,  P. 
I.,  states  that  "officers  and  some  old  soldiers  will  make  their  can- 
teens of  water  last  for  twenty-four  hours  if  necessary,  or  else  go 
without ;  but  the  average  soldier  can  not  be  made  to  do  it,  and  sick- 
ness results." 

It  is  an  axiom  in  our  service  to  never  start  on  a  march  or  field 
exercise  without  filling  all  canteens.  Company  commanders  inspect 
before  starting  to  see  that  this  essential  is  complied  with  by  all. 

The  importance  of  the  canteen  as  an  article  of  the  soldier's 
equipment  in  the  field  cannot  be  overestimated.  Its  value  in  garrison 
is  not  generally  appreciated,  because  of  the  ease  with  which  water 
can  be  obtained. 

A  canteen  is  defined  by  Webster  as  being  a  vessel  used  by  sol- 
diers for  carrying  liquors,  water  or  other  drink. 

In  the  English  service  the  canteen  has  been  made  of  wood  and 
held  three  pints.  In  the  United  States  it  is  a  tin  flask. 

Col.  H.  L.  Scott,  in  his  Military  Dictionary  of  1864,  defines  a  can- 


8  HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

teen  as  a  small  tin,  caoutchouc,  or  circular  wooden  vessel,  used  by 
soldiers  to  carry  liquor,  etc. 

Captain  Thomas  Wilhelm,  in  his  Military  Dictionary,  1881,  says 
that  a  canteen  is  a  tin  vessel  used  by  soldiers  to  carry  water  on  the 
march,  or  in  the  field.  It  is  usually  suspended  by  a  strap  from  the 
shoulder.  In  the  British  service  the  canteen,  he  says,  is  made  of 
wood  and  is  called  a  water  bottle. 

Worcester  in  his  dictionary  defines  the  canteen  as  a  small  tin  or 
circular  wooden  vessel  which  each  soldier  carries  and  uses  for 
water. 

Chambers'  Encyclopedia,  edition  of  1879,  defines  canteen  as  the 
name  given  to  a  vessel  used  by  soldiers  to  contain  whatever  beverage 
may  be  obtainable  on  the  march  or  in  the  field,  made  sometimes  of 
tin,  sometimes  of  wood.  In  the  British  army,  the  canteen  is  a 
wooden  vessel  holding  about  three  pints,  painted  blue,  and  inscribed 
with  the  number,  or  designation  of  the  regiment,  battalion  and  com- 
pany to  which  the  soldier  belongs. 

The  following  are  stated  to  be  the  specifications  for  the  regula- 
tion U.  S.  Army  canteen,  viz. : 

Made  of  XXXX  tin,  circular  in  shape,  7J  inches  in  diameter,  sides 
oval  and  smooth ;  thickness  through,  three  inches,  with  a  triangular 
wire  loop  T  soldered  on  each  side  to  tin  loop ;  mouthpiece  with  a 
rim ;  cork  capped  with  tin ;  iron  wire  stem  riveted  through  cork  and 
attached  to  canteen  by  a  brass  chain  three  inches  long,  with  a  ring 
closed  on  mouthpiece.  Covered  first  with  gray  "Petersham,"  and 
afterwards  with  drab  duck.  The  weight  of  the  complete  canteen 
is  12.6  ounces;  of  the  canteen  haversack  strap,  as  used  by  the  in- 
fantry, 6.3  ounces,  and  of  the  cavalry  canteen  strap,  3  ounces. 

The  Commandant,  Rock  Island  Arsenal,  Illinois,  (Major  S.  E. 
Blunt,  Ord.  Dept.)  furnishes  the  following  information  in  regard 
to  the  manufacture  of  canteens  at  that  arsenal :  "The  present  regu- 
lation canteen  is  made  up  of  sheet  tin ;  the  two  halves  of  the  can- 
teen being  formed  under  presses,  soldered  together  and  separate 
mouthpiece  soldered  thereto,  the  triangles  for  the  strap  soldered  on, 
and  then  the  canteen  covered,  first  with  felt  and  then  with  dyed 
duck  of  the  same  material  as  used  for  the  haversack.  After  this 
the  cork  and  chain  are  added.  Inspections  are  made  at  each  different 
stage  of  manufacture  and  when  finally  completed  before  the  canteens 
are  packed  and  transferred  to  store.  The  only  'test'  made  during 
manufacture  is  to  determine  whether  the  soldering  is  complete.  This 
is  accomplished  by  placing  the  nozzle  of  an  air  compresser  into  the 
mouth  of  the  canteen,  plunging  the  canteen  under  water,  and  then 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  C) 

forcing  air  into  it.  If  there  are  any  leaks  they  will  be  discovered  by 
air  bubbling  in^the  water.  If  leaks  are  found  the  canteen  is  resoldered 
and  again  tested." 

In  the  matter  of  canteens  we  have  not  kept  pace  with  other  na- 
tions nor  yet  with  the  development  and  improvements  made  by  in- 
ventors and  industrial  establishments  in  the  United  States,  and  which 
have  been  made  evident  by  the  open  air  tests  made  by  me  and  here- 
inafter described. 

The  canteen  now  and  for  many  years  issued  by  the  Ordnance 
Department,  is  a  poor  affair,  inconsistent  with  the  improvements 
made  in  other  articles  of  the  soldier's  equipment  issued  by  the  same 
department. 

I  have  found,  in  the  possession  of  the  ist  Cavalry  or  of  the 
8th  Infantry,  canteens  made  of  X  tin,  of  XX  tin,  and  of  XXX  tin. 
Owing  to  this  lack  of  uniformity  in  material,  difference  in  weight 
and  of  durability  exists. 

Some  of  the  army  canteens  vary  in  capacity  four  or  more  ounces, 
the  minimum  being  42  fluid  ounces. 

Difference  exists,  also  in  the  weight,  thickness  and  quality  of  the 
felt  superimposed  upon  the  flask.  These  variations  are  visible  to  the 
eye  and  have  been  further  proven  by  immersion  in  water  and  by 
flame  tests. 

The  present  service  canteen  is  defective  because  it  will  not  pre- 
serve fluid  at  a  palatable  temperature,  in  either  very  high  or  very 
low  temperatures.  A  cause  of  this  defect  is  that  the  tin  flask  is  not 
covered  by  enough  non-conducting  material,  viz.,  good,  thick,  all- 
wool  felt. 

First  Lieutenant  F.  L.  Knudson,  8th  Infantry,  a  soldier  of  nearly 
twelve  years'  experience  in  infantry  service,  says:  'The  canteen 
at  present  issued  to  the  army  is  very  poor.  Its  shape  is  such  that 
it  is  inconvenient  to  carry,  and  its  covering  not  sufficiently  thick 
to  keep  the  water  cool.  The  stopper  should  be  fashioned  by  having 
its  chain  secured  on  the  inside  of  the  canteen,  because  the  present 
method  of  fastening  it  is  not  solid  enough  and  causes  the  chain  to  slip 
off  the  neck  of  the  canteen  and  the  stoppers  are  very  often  lost.  The 
canteen  should  be  made  of  material  that  will  not  rust." 

Captain  F.  H.  Sargent,  8th  Infantry,  says:  "Noticed  defect  in 
canteen,  which  should  be  of  such  shape  as  to  fit  close  to  the  body  and 
should  be  covered  with  a  good  felt,  much  thicker  than  the  cover  now 
in  use,  which  is  of  poor  material,  shoddy  and  thin." 

Captain  W.  H.  Hart,  Brigade  Quartermaster,  N.  G.  S.  Minnc- 


10 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


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HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  II 

sota,  writes :  "The  Government  canteen  cover  is  of  flimsy  material 
and  cannot  absorb  nearly  as  much  water  as  a  canteen  cover  of  fine 
piano  all  wool  felt." 

Not  to  change  and  improve  the  present  army  canteen  is  to  run 
counter  to  the  workings  of  what  clearly  is  the  trend  of  development 
in  the  higher  walks  of  business,  science  and  the  profession  of  arms  in 
other  countries. 

The  service  canteen  should  be  a  combination  of  a  flask  to  con- 
tain fluids,  provided  with  a  cover  to  keep  the  contents  of  the  flask  at 
a  palatable  temperature ;  that  is,  a  condition  with  respect  to  heat  or 
cold  in  zones,  localities  or  temperatures  other  than  ordinarily  preva- 
lent in  the  temperate  zone. 

It  seems  hardly  necessary  to  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  a  canteen 
flask  and  its  coverings  must  be  separately,  as  well  as  unitedly,  con- 
sidered. 

The  canteen,  per  se,  is  a  flask  to  contain  forty-eight  or  more  fluid 
ounces  cf  water.  It  is  in  no  wise  responsible  for  the  failure 
of  its  cover  to  protect  its  contents  adequately  from  extreme  varia- 
tions of  temperature.  The  flask  should  be  so  made,  or  of  such  ma- 
terial, as  to  resist  such  treatment  as  a  soldier  might  give  it  during  a 
campaign,  or  the  march,  or  in  the  field. 

RESPECTS  IN  WHICH  THE  CARE  AND  STORAGE  OF  WATER  IN  A  CAN- 
TEEN RESEMBLE  STORAGE  METHODS  OF  TRANSPORTA- 
TION OF  FOOD  PRODUCTS. 

It  is  not  inappropriate  to  consider  water  as  a  food  product,  and, 
in  hot  weather,  the  canteen  as  a  cold  storage  house.  When  the  tem- 
perature ranges  above  90  degrees,  it  is  injurious  to  water  as  a  food 
product. 

The  Subsistence  Department,  U.  S.  Army,  has  to  consider  tem- 
peratures injurious  to  food  products  in  storage  or  transportation,  and 
methods  of  protection  from  the  same. 

It  is  claimed  that  water  is  perishable  when  congealed,  or  when 
so  hot  as  to  be  nauseating.  It  is  also  unfit  for  human  consumption 
when  unsanitary  from  any  cause.  Protection  from  excessive  heat 
or  cold  is  as  necessary  for  drinking  water  as  for  fruits,  vegetables, 
dairy  products,  milk,  green  meats,  poultry,  game,  fish,  oysters,  clams, 
malt  and  hop  liquors,  wet,  canned  or  bottled  groceries,  ink,  mucilage, 
proprietary  medicines,  mineral  waters  and  drugs  having  water,  in- 
stead of  alcohol,  as  a  base. 

Hence,  in  the  construction  of  a  canteen  and  its  components,  also 
in  the  transportation  by  the  soldier  of  its  perishable  contents,  primal 
objects  to  be  attained  are : 


12  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

1.  The  protection  of  the  contents  from  frost  or  excessive  cold. 

2.  The  protection  of  the  same  from  excessive  heat. 

The  temperatures  at  which  drinking  waters  are  liable  to  damage 
vary  according  to  their  condition  when  canteened,  length  of  expos- 
ure, whether  kept  continually  in  motion,  etc. 

The  degrees  of  cold  to  which  drinking  fluids  within  canteens 
may  be  subjected  without  becoming  impaired  depends  upon  the  time 
of  exposure,  whether  allowed  to  stand,  whether  partly  emptied,  and 
the  duration  of  the  exposure,  as  well  as  the  intensity  of  the  cold. 

In  the  transportation  and  exposure  of  the  fooll  products,  etc., 
named,  concurrence  of  opinion  and  method  exists  as  to  the  modern 
methods  involving  the  efficacy  of  cars,  etc.,  specially  built,  variably 
ventilated,  properly  lined  and  contents  carefully  packed  in  straw, 
hay,  oat  chaff,  moss,  sawdust,  paper,  etc.  In  the  case  of  the  canteen, 
the  lining  is  properly  represented  by  the  cover,  or  outer  jacket. 

Just  as  in  the  former  case,  a  factor  to  be  observed  is  the  tempera- 
ture of  the  produce  when  put  into  the  car,  so  the  temperature  of  the 
fluid  or  water  when  the  canteen  is  filled  is  a  factor  in  determining 
the  merit  of  the  flask  covering.  If  the  fluid  has  been  exposed  to  a 
low  temperature  for  a  considerable  time  before  being  canteened,  it  is 
in  a  poor  condition  to  withstan/1  cold,  and  its  original  temperature 
must  be  taken  into  account.  It  is  also  certain  that  even  a  car  load 
of  produce,  like  potatoes,  will  stand  a  lower  temperature  when  the 
car  is  in  motion  than  when  at  rest,  so  it  is  with  a  canteen's  contents 
when  jolted. 

Cars  are  classed  as  ordinary  refrigerator  cars,  salamanders  and 
extraordinary  refrigerator  cars  of  the  better  class.  Canteens  may 
also  be  so  classed.  Some  are  simply  water  carriers ;  others  are  so 
protected  as  to  assist  in  the  process  of  refrigerating  their  fluid  con- 
tents. 

Car  loads  of  fish,  etc.,  are  protected  by  bins  built  into  the  car 
and  thoroughly  iced.  The  modern  canteen  has  its  non-conducting 
cover  built  on  to  the  outside  of  the  flask,  and  in  hot  weather  the  fluid 
contents  of  the  flask  are  protected  by  moistening  the  absorbent  inner 
cover. 

The  relation  between  the  outside  air  temperature  and  the  tem- 
perature within  the  car  varies  largely,  depending  on  the  kind  of  car, 
whether  an  ordinary  freight  or  refrigerator  car,  whether  lined  or 
not,  whether  standing  still  or  in  motion,  and  also  on  the  weather, 
whether  windy  or  calm,  warm  or  cold. 

'In  shipping  long  distances  in  summer,  it  is  necessary  to  re-ice  the 
cars. 


HISTOKY    OF    THE    .MILITARY    CAXTEKX.  13 

When  the  old  soldier  can,  he  will,  in  hot  weather,  immerse  his 
corked  canteen  in  water  in  order  to  resupply  the  absorbent  inner 
cover  with  moisture  and  so  retard  the  subsequent  evaporation  by 
keeping-  the  outer  cover  tightly  laced. 

It  is  important  to  note  that  in  shipping  fruits,  etc.,  many  of  the 
precautions  taken  in  packing  to  keep  out  the  cold  will  also  keep  in 
the  heat,  there  being  really  more  danger  in  some  instances  from 
heating,  steaming,  cooking,  etc.,  by  process  of  decomposition  than 
from  cold. 

In  cold  weather  the  knowing  old  soldier  who  wants  to  keep  his 
canteen  full  of  coffee,  tea,  etc.,,  hot,  puts  the  fluid  into  the  canteen 
when  it  is  hot,  and  he  does  not  wet  the  felt  cover. 

Cars  containing  perishable  goods  are  sometimes,  when  a  south 
wind  is  blowing  on  the  prairie,  covered  with  canvas  on  the  south 
side.  They  are  lined,  have  padded  doors,  sides  are  protected  by 
heavy  paper  tacked  to  the  walls,  also  by  the  addition  of  an  inner 
board  wall  a  few  inches  distant  from  the  outer  one;  produce  sur- 
rounded by  straw,  cars  warmed  by  steam  from  the  locomotive  when 
in  motion,  and  by  stove  wdien  steam  is  not  available.  Lined  cars 
are  lined  with  tongued  and  grooved  boards  on  the  sides  and  ends 
and  bulkheaded.  Cars,  after  being  loaded,  are  carefully  inspected 
as  to  temperature  within ;  their  destination  considered,  etc. 

Cars  were  not  thus  equipped,  packed  and  constructed,  etc.,  prior 
to  the  construction  of  our  transcontinental  railways  and  cold  storage 
establishments.  Twenty-five  years  ago  shippers  used  ordinary  cars. 

The  development  and  evolution  of  the  canteen  in  the  U.  S.  Army 
has  not  been  such  as  to  justify  retaining  any  longer  in  service  the 
army  canteen  now  used  by  our  soldiers.  The  development,  improve- 
ment and  evolution  of  the  service  canteen  has  not  kept  pace  with 
the  progress  of  the  cold  storage  cars. 

In  the  modern  method  of  storing  water  in  a  canteen,  the  recom- 
mendation is  made  that  a  modern  canteen  be  used.  That  is  to  say, 
one  protected  by  felt  instead  of  "Petersham,"  having  superimposed 
an  openable  canvas  cover  made  of  some  close  woven  textile  fabric, 
the  pattern  of  the  cover  being  such  as  to  facilitate  the  moistening  of 
the  felt. 

The  best  method  of  covering  for  a  canteen  known  to  me  is  the 
Lanz  method.  It  does  not  necessarily  quickly  produce  a  low  tem- 
perature in  hot  weather,  but  it  keeps  the  contents  of  the  canteen  at 
a  uniformly  palatable  temperature  better  than  any  other  practically 
practicable  device  suited  for  the  military  service  and  personal  trans- 
portation by  the  soldier  in  the  open. 


14  HISTORY    OF    Till-:    MILITARY    CAXTEKX. 

Efforts  are  being  constantly  made  to  reduce  the  load  of  the  foot 
soldier  to  a  minimum.  lie  solves  the  question  for  himself  in  the 
field  by  discarding  non-essentials  and  so  enhances  his  fighting  and 
marching  powers,  but  retains  his  canteen  whether  afoot,  mounted  or 
moving  by  wagon,  transport  or  train.  The  canteen  is  not  included 
by  him  in  the  list  of  unnecessary  impedimenta. 

A  soldier  must  have  water,  and  he  must  have  an  appliance  to 
carry  water.  That  canteen  is  the  best  canteen  which  is  the  most  per- 
fect non-conductor  of  heat  and  cold. 

In  a  report  dated  January  20,  1899,  from  Headquarters  ist  Di- 
vision 2d  Army  Corps,  Camp  Mackenzie,  Augusta,  Ga.,  recommenda- 
tion was  made  that  canteens  should  be  covered  with  felt,  or  wool, 
not  bare  Canvas. 

I  now  know  that  a  flannel  cover,  unprotected,  over  a  canteen, 
makes  evaporation  too  easy ;  that  a  leather  covered  canteen  stops 
evaporation  entirely ;  that  a  canvas  cover  over  felt  retards  evaporation 
and  gives  the  best  results.,  viz.,  palatable  water  of  low  temperature 
for  troops  in  the  field  in  the  summer  season,  or  any  season  in  our 
tropical  possessions. 

It  is  believed  that  the  function  of  a  canteen  is  to  carry  and  ef- 
fectually preserve  the  temperature  of  water,  either  in  hot  or  cold 
weather. 

The  present  U.  S.  canteen,  as  issued  by  the  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment, does  not  satisfactorily  preserve  or  maintain  fluid  at  a  palat- 
able temperature  in  either  very  high  or  very  low  temperatures. 

Every  question  in  war  should  be  considered  in  the  aspect  of  what 
soldiers  can  do,  and  will  do,  when  fatigued.  A  veteran  soldier  knows 
the  value  of  a  canteen.  The  three  articles  that  he  will  hold  en  to 
longest  are  his  rifle,  his  canteen  and  his  blanket.  -If  he  has  no  am- 
munition for  his  rifle  he  may  abandon  it,  but  hang  on  to  his  canteen 
and  blanket.  He  will  never  part  with  his  canteen.  Its  value  as  an 
article  of  equipment  is  attested  to  by  this  fact. 

The  material  used  to  cover  the  canteen  flask,  now  in  use  by  the 
U.  S.  Army,  is  practically  useless  as  a  means  for  preventing  the  con- 
tents of  the  canteen  from  becoming  frozen  in  cold  weather. 

A  method  of  preventing  in  hot  weather  the  contents  from  be- 
coming unpalatable,  by  reason  of  high  temperature,  is  to  apply  a  layer 
of  non-heat  conducting  material  to  the  body  of  the  flask,  moistening 
this  material  so  as  to  prevent  the  air  from  gaining  access  to  the 
wetted  material,  thus  retarding  the  process  of  evaporation. 

A  method  for  effecting  the  desired  end,  in  cold  weather,  is  above 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  1 5 

described,   except    that   the    layer   of   non-heat-conductittg   material 
applied  to  the  body  of  the  flask  should  not  be  moistened. 

Old  soldiers' of  the  U.  S.  Army  know  that  a  woolen  stocking  leg 
pulled  over  a  canteen  helps  to  keep  the  contents  cool,  and  they  also 
know  that,  in  tropical  regions,  the  evaporation  is  retarded  and  the 
canteen  contents  thus  kept  palatable,  especially  if  a  dry  cotton  stock- 
ing leg  is  pulled  over  the  wet  woolen  one. 

The  veteran  soldier,  plainsman,  scout  or  hunter,  will,  during  hot 
weather,  "dip"  his  canteen  whenever  opportunity  offers. 

The  body  of  the  metallic  flask  used  as  a  canteen  should  be  thor- 
oughly covered  with  all  wool  felt,  or  other  non-conducting  absorbent 
fabric,  material  or  substance,  or  by  a  combination  of  such.  The 
better  the  felt,  the  better  its  absorbent  properties,  and  the  better  are 
the  results  attained  in  any  open  air  temperature  to  which  the  can- 
teen is  exposed. 

There  is  a  kind  of  felt,  so-called,  used  for  lining  horse  boots  for 
wear,  for  padding  saddles — "hair  felt"  it  is  called.  Hair  felt  is 
sometimes  wool  mixed  with  hair  of  goat,  ox,  hare,  rabbit,  musquash 
and  cotton  or  jute.  Saddler's  felt  may  be  some  wool  mixed  with 
any  serrated  edged,  jagged  or  notched  hair,  the  barbs  of  which  point 
to  the  tip  of  the  hair. 

The  piano  felt  used  on  one  pattern  of  the  Lanz  canteen  heretofore 
mentioned  is  unwoven,  clear,  all-wool,  and  weighs  about  three  (3) 
pounds  to  the  square  yard.  It  is  of  1-8,  2-8,  3-8,  4-8,  etc.,  thickness, 
but  the  thickness  alone  does  not  indicate  weight.  It  can  be  made  of 
any  reasonable  thickness.  It  is  said  by  piano  manufacturers  to  be 
made  in  different  weights,  from  one  (i)  to  five  (5)  pounds  per 
square  yard. 

Another  type  of  the  Lanz  canteen  is  protected  by  a  wool  sponge 
woven  felt  fabric ;  a  new  departure,  made  in  Amsterdam,  N.  Y.  Its 
efficacy  as  a  canteen  flask  cover  has  not  yet  been  fully  determined. 

Over  the  non-conducting  material  on  the  body  of  the  flask  should 
be  superimposed  an  openable  cover  of  some  close  woven  textile  fabric. 
An  advantage  of  the  partly  openable  duck,  or  canvas,  cover,  is  that  it 
facilitates  moistening  of  the  felt.  When  the  Cover  is  laced  up  over 
the  moistened  felt,  evaporation  is  retarded  and  the  contents  of  the 
canteen  kept  at  a  palatable  temperature  for  a  much  longer  period  of 
time  than  if  the  present  service  canteen  is  used. 

It  is  fully  recognized  that  the  determination  of  the  best  canteen 
should  rest  upon  their  use  in  the  field,  and  not  by  experimental  tests 
in  the  hands  of  officers  not  serving  with  troops.  Durability,  corro- 


i6 


HISTORY  OF  Tin-:  .MILITARY  CANTEEN. 


Pattern  of  Metallic  F/asfc,  screw  6o/y, 
ly  the  £ar?z   Ca»tee*  Co., 
fond,  around 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN,  ij 

i 

sion,  etc.,  of  metal  flasks,  can  be  so  determined.     Facts  of  this  kind 
find  in  the  fiekl  their  best  proving  ground. 

Preparations  for  war  include  tests  of  appliances  for  war.  The 
testing  mania  is  overdone  when  a  weary  round  of  experimenting  is 
done  to  determine  questions  that  have  already  been  determined  by 
field  use. 

Somnolent  experimentation  is  out  of  place,  for  example,  with  the 
present  canteen,  antique  a  quarter  of  a  century  ago.  Line  officers 
who  have  been  stationed  in  New  Mexico,  southern  California  and 
Arizona,  to  say  nothing  of  Cuba  and  Porto  Rico,  know  that  a  metal 
flask,  used  as  a  canteen,  should  be  covered  with  a  non-conducting  sub- 
stance ;  know  that  thick  wool  felt  should  be-  substituted  for  the 
"Petersham,"  or  thin  stuff,  now  superimposed  upon  the  flask;  know 
that  this  felt  should  be  kept  moist  in  a  hot  climate,  in  order  to  keep 
the  contents  of  the  flask  palatable ;  know  that  this  woolen  cover 
should  have  an  outer  cover  that  will  allow,  and  retard,  evaporation. 
No  "tests"  by  any  board  are  required  to  demonstrate  these  facts. 

DESCRIPTION  OE  THE  ARIZONA  CANTEEN. 

The  Arizona  canteen,  cavalry  size,  weighs,  dry,  4oV>z. ;  wet,  82 
oz. ;  holds  86  oz.  It  is  covered  with  common  saddler's  felt,  f-inch 
thick,  over  which  there  is  a  canvas  cover,  whose  edges  through  a  por- 
tion of  its  circumference  are  partly  laced,  instead  of  being  stitched — 
hence  openable.  The  seams  along  the  edges  of  the  flask  are  per- 
manently stitched  from  the  nozzle  in  each  direction  for  a  few  inches. 

Originally — that  is,  in  May,  1898 — the  outer  covering  was  com- 
posed of  several  thicknesses  of  blue  flannel.  The  object  of  having 
an  openable  canvas  cover,  laced  for  a  portion  of  its  circumference, 
was  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  moisture  to  the  inside  felt  and  to 
secure  the  cooling  effect  due  to  retarded  evaporation. 

The  cover  is  made  in  four  sections,  two  around  the  edge  or  cir- 
cumference, the  remaining  two  being  applied  to  each  side,  or  face,  of 
the  flask,  all  joined  by  being  stitched,  except  where  lacing  instead  of 
stitching,  is  used  on  the  circumference  of  the  flask. 

A  similar  canteen,  having  a  rigid  central  support,  was  carried  by 
me  along  the  Gila,  Colorado  and  Rio  Grande  rivers  twenty-five  years 
ago.  This  particular  canteen  also  accompanied  me,  when  mounted, 
in  the  province  of  Santiago  de  Cuba,  June- August,  1898,  and,  later, 
in  the  province  of  Havana.  It  was  my  custom  to  wet  it  at  sunset, 
and  suspend  the  canteen  for  the  night.  It  kept  water  at  a  lower  tem- 
perature throughout  the  following  day  than  any  other  portable  appli- 
ance known  to  me. 


l8  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

Complaint  is  made  from  the  Philippines  that  the  canteens  used 
there  always  flatten  after  much  usage,  the  flattening  beginning  on 
the  side  which  rests  against  the  saddle  blanket. 

Before  the  days  of  railroads  in  New  Mexico,  southern  Arizona 
and  California,  the  canteens  carried  by  us,  in  summer  time,  were  large 
enough  to  hold  about  six  pints  of  water.  Existence  depended,  some- 
times, upon  the  contents  of  a  big  canteen.  They  were  so  large  that 
flattening  was  prevented,  at  the  expense  of  weight,  by  an  inside  cen- 
tral rigid  support,  made  of  the  same  metal  as  the  flask,  which  support 
was  soldered  to  one-half  of  the  canteen  before  the  halves  which  con- 
stituted the  faces  were  put  together. 

THE  PARKER  CANTEEN. 

The  Parker  canteen,  like  the  Pasteur  filter,  has  a  tube.  The  lia- 
bility of  the  filtering  tube  to-  fracture  by  jolting  incident  to  carnage 
and  use,  prompts  an  objection  to  its  adoption  for  military  use  in  the 
field.  This  objection  is  based  on  the  fragile  material  from  which  the 
tube  is  made.  The  filter  tube  displaces  about  its  own  weight  of  water 
from  the  filled  canteen,  thus  limiting  the  supply  of  fluid  which  the 
canteen  would  otherwise  hold.  As  water  will  not  normally  arise 
above  its  own  level,  it  follows  that  when  the  canteen  is  only  half  full, 
the  filter  tube  is  only  half  full,  etc. 

These  canteens  are  made  of  tin,  into  the  composition  of  which 
iron  enters.  Complaint  was  made  by  those  of  the  Seventh  U.  S. 
Cavalry  who  drank  in  the  province  of  Havana,  the  Vento  spring 
water,  or  other  water  of  that  class,  that  contact  of  the  fluid  with  the 
canteen  was  followed  by  chemical  action,  oxidation,  and  that  the 
water  in  the  canteen  became  the  color  of  iron  rust. 

The  deposit  of  oxide  in  the  filter  of  the  Parker  canteen  closed  the 
pores  and  it  soon  ceased  to  be  a  filter.  The  closed  end  of  the  tube 
showed  then  a  deep  iron  rust  color  and  the  wrater  became  undrink- 
able. 

The  Parker  canteen  was  reported  on  from  Headquarters  Depart- 
ment of  Havana,  April  24,  1899,  after  consultation  with  officers  of  the 
Second  Squadron,  Seventh  U.  S.  Cavalry.  I  have  not  since  been 
brought  in  contact  with  troops  provided  with  any  of  the  Parker  can- 
teens. 

In  my  report  to  the  Inspector  General,  through  proper  channels, 
dated  April  27,  1899,  inspection  Seventh  U.  S.  Cavalry,  I  outlined 
the  following  undeniable  principles,  viz. : 

1.  Filtration  has  for  its  object  the  removal  of  suspended  matter. 

2.  Organic  matters  adhere  to  the  surface  presented  to  the  fluid 
within  the  flask. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY   CANTEEN.  IQ 

3.  Water  passing-  slowly  through  it  makes  deposits  in  the  inter- 
stices. 

The  Parker  canteen  has  a  filter  tube  inside  the  flask ;  it  is  attached 
to  an  ordinary  cork  capped  with  a  cap  of  hard  rubber  material  having 
a  removable  cap,  and  a  drink  is  obtained  by  suction,  the  fluid  percolat- 
ing through  the  filter,  which  appears  to  be  of  infusorial  earth  or 
stone. 

The  continuance  of  the  action  of  the  Parker  filter,  or  any  other 
filter  is  limited. 

Soldiers  in  the  field  will  not  find  it  practicable  to  clean  the  Pas- 
tuer,  Parker,  Berkfield  or  any  other  kind  of  filter  made  of  infusorial 
earth. 

If  the  Parker  filter  is  not  cleaned,  it  clogs,  and  soon  ceases  to  be  a 
filter. 

For  these  reasons,  apart  from  its  friable  nature,  it  is  the  opinion 
of  Captain  Luther  R.  Hare,  Seventh  U.  S.  Cavalry,  and  of  the  other 
officers  of  the  Seventh  U.  S.  Cavalry,  formerly  on  duty  in  Cuba,  that 
the  Parker  filter  does  not  possess  sufficient  merit  to  warrant  a  further 
trial  by  U.  S.  troops. 

The  tube  alone  weighs  eight  (8)  ounces.  The  flask  weighs  six- 
teen (16)  ounces,  holds  about  56  ounces,  avoirdupois,  of  water,  less 
the  amount  displaced  by  the  filter.  The  latter  is  54  inches  long; 
diameter,  I  inch. 

Experience  is  a  safe  guide.  Filters  were  numerous  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  civil  war,  and  the  volunteers  bought  filters  numerously 
at  the  begining  of  the  Spanish-American  war.  They  were  service- 
able for  a  while,  but  campaign  exigencies  relegated  them  to  the  list  of 
non-essentials,  where  plainsmen  and  old  hunters  had  already  placed 
them. 

The  objections  to  the  Parker  filter  for  use  in  a  military  canteen, 
aside  from  its  weight,  clumsiness,  etc.,  are  that  it  is  brittle  and  liable 
to  fracture,  particularly  when  moist.  A  crack  becomes  a  structural 
imperfection.  It  cracks  easily.  Unless  cleaned  and  sterilized  fre- 
quently, the  pores  of  the  filter  become  filled  with  organic  matter, 
which,  decomposing,  becomes  offensive  and  a  good  culture  bed  for 
micro-organism. 

The  objection  that,  after  some  use,  it  will  become  a  breeding 
ground  for  bacilli  and  germs,  is  a  vital  one.  . 

The  Parker  filter  is  not  capable  of  efficiently  removing  bacteria 
and  other  micro-organisms  from  \vater.  Frequent  cleaning  by  hot 
wet,  or  hot  dry,  process,  is  necessary.  These  processes  are  not 
always  practicable  by  soldiers.  Cleaning  by  brushing  will  \vear  away 


2O  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

the  bougie  or  tube.     Sucb,  in  any  case,  will  not  cleanse  below  the 
portion  touched. 

THE  ALUMINUM  CANTEEN,  60  ox.,  GERMAN  COVER. — THE  KARLS- 
RUHE GERMAN  ALUMINUM  CANTEEN. 

Through  the  courtesy  of  Messrs.  George  and  William  Lanz,  183 
Lake  street,  Chicago,  111.,  I  have  been  furnished  with  two  aluminum 
canteens,  one  having  a  capacity  of  sixty  (60)  ounces ;  the  other  forty- 
three  (43)  fluid  ounces,  both  flasks  fabricated  in  Karlsruhe,  Baden, 
Germany.  The  large  flask  has  a  German-made  felt  cover — no  canvas 
—weight,  including  carrying  strap,  fourteen  ( 14)  ounces.  The 
medium  flask  has  a  Lanz  cover,  and  inner  cover  of  the  kind  patented 
by  Mr.  Lanz,  August  14,  1900;  weight,  fifteen  (15)  ounces.  Cuts 
of  the  two  are  shown  herewith,  (pp.  115,  10.) 

These  canteens  were  tested  by  me  in  the  open  air,  in  conjunction 
with  others.  In  the  first  tests  made,  each  flask  was  filled  to  its  full 
capacity.  In  the  subsequent  tests,  the  amount  of  water  in  each  was 
the  same,  this  in  order  to  equalize  conditions  as  much  as  possible. 

THE   DUBUQUE   STAMPING  AND   ENAMEL   CANTEEN,    WITH    THE 

PARKER  FILTER. 

It  is  understood  that  this  is  a  naked  metal  flask,  coated  inside  and 
outside  with  some  kind  of  agate,  vitrified,  glazed,  incrysted,  porce- 
lained,  lava,  granite  or  annealed  ware.  If  it  chips  like  the  enameled 
agate  ware  used  in  furnishing  officers'  mess  chests,  its  use  will  be 
dangerous  if  the  chips  are  swallowed.  In  composition  it  is  under- 
stood to  resemble  the  kind  of  ware  commonly  used  in  cooking  uten- 
sils. This  type,  viz. :  uncovered  metal,  is  merelya  thing  to  carry  fluid 
in  without  pretending  to  keep  the  fluid  at  a  palatable  temperature. 

Whatever  canteen  is  adopted,  it  is  essential  that  the  flask  be 
covered  with  a  non-conducting  fabric  or  substance. 

The  lower  part  of  the  neck,  or  nozzle,  or  mouth-piece,  of  the 
Dubuque  Enamel  canteen  forms  a  right  angle  with  the  side-band  of 
the  flask,  and  so  cuts  away  the  filter  part  of  the  Parker  tube,  expos- 
ing the  center  metal  rod.  This  cutting  away  causes  the  friable  mat- 
ter of  which  the  filter  is  composed  to  break  away  from  the  rod.  The 
jolting  incident  to  transportation  would  probably  cause  it  to  disinte- 
grate, if  used  in  the  Dubuque  Enamal  canteen,  owing  to  the  mechani- 
cal construction  of  the  neck  of  the  flask. 

A  dealer  in  white  enamel  ware,  manufactured  in  Sweden,  states 
that  that  process  of  enameling  is  like  that  pursued  in  this  country  in 
painting  bicycle,  frames  and  then  burning  on  the  paint. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
Cart   V  CUir 


21 


fyTlt  votes  of '  reforteer 


Canteen  tnrn 


22  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

He  has  for  sale  utensils  made  of  the  ware,  iron  base,  white  enamel 
and  says  that  they  will  stand  the  test  of  fire  without  fusing ;  in  fact 
that  coffee  could  be  boiled  in  any  of  the  utensils ;  but  admits  that  th< 
ware  will  chip,  little  fragments  break  off,  thus  exposing  the  iron  base 
rust  then  sets  in,  undermining  the  rest  of  the  glaze,  enamel,  vitreous 
coating  or  material  used  to  give  the  metal  a  porcelain  or  agate  coat 
ing.  Makers  of  bath  tubs  have  had  the  same  trouble  in  making  th< 
enamel  stick  to  the  metal. 

The  material  which  enters  into  the  canteen  made  by  the  Dubuqiu 
Stamping  and  Enamel  Company  may  be  of  some  such  combinatior 
ware  as  the  Swedish  lacquered  or  glazed  ware.  If  it  is,  a  proposition 
from  a  would-be  contractor  to  furnish  such  canteens  for  military  use 
would  incite  the  condemnatory  sense  and  sentiment  of  practical 
soldiers. 

The  Dubuque  Enamel  canteen  is  not  so  good  as  the  present  type  oi 
regulation  canteen.  Tests  have  proved  its  worthlessness,  except  tc 
carry  water  in.  Its  shape  is  about  identical  with  the  wood  canteen, 
or  water  bottle,  contemporaneous  with  our  second  war  with  England. 
The  modern  canteen  is  not  of  circular,  but  of  oval,  gourd,  oblong, 
bottle,  or  flask  shape. 

THE  NEWARK,  NEW  JERSEY,  ALUMINUM  CANTEEN  FLASK. 

The  New  Jersey  Aluminum  Company,  Newark,  N.  J.,  submitted 
to  me  for  test  three  samples  of  their  aluminum  canteen  flask.  ( See 
"M,"  "N"  and  "O"  Test  Tables,  pp.  64).  All  are  of  circular  fig- 
drum,  or  cheese-box  shape.  The  mouth-piece  appears  to  be  soldered 
on;  its  diameter  is  considerably  less  than  that  of  the  orifice  in  the 
side  piece  of  the  flask,  and  it  is  a  separate  piece  of  aluminum;  the 
side-rings  are  inserted  in  ears  riveted  to  the  flask.  Each  flask  appar- 
ently consists  of  eight  pieces,  the  rivets  not  being  counted,  including 
the  wire  loops.  The  finish  is  such  that  no  seams  are  visible.  The 
firm  claims  that  the  flasks  are  made  without  the  use  of  solder.  They 
are  not  provided  with  covers  or  stoppers.  One  face  is  flat,  perhaps 
slightly  concave,  the  other  face  being  convex. 

The  aluminum  canteen  flask,  made  by  the  Newark,  N.  J.,  Alum- 
inum Company,  and  covered  by  the  Lanz  method,  f-inch  felt,  and 
openable  canvas  cover  (termed  in  test  tables  p.  64,  canteen  "F"), 
underwent  thirty-four  tests  by  me,  on  as  many  different  days.  It  has 
on  each  side  a  flat  piece  of  the  same  metal,  aluminum,  riveted  to  the 
flask.  This  flat  piece  is  doubled  and  bent  so  as  to  make  a  loop  in 
which  there  turns  a  bent  piece  of  looped  wire,  which  serves  to  attach 
the  hook,  or  snap,  of  the  canteen  strap  to.  Three  rivets  are  used  in 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAXTEEX.  23 

each  flat  piece ;  «no  soldering  visible ;  length  of  rivets  unknown.  Xo 
leakage  occurred  during  any  of  the  tests  at  the  points  where  rivets 
were  used. 

Eyelets  of  the  outer  canvas  cover,  Lanz  method,  are  reinforced 
on  the  inside  by  a  bit  of  canvas,  folded  double.  The  all-wool  felt 
used  as  the  inner  jacket  consists  of  two  pieces,  each  cut  with  a  beveled 
edge  in  order  to  give  the  jacket  a  snug  fit  where  joined.  These  pieces 
are  neatly  secured  together  by  stitching  of  copper  or  aluminum  wire. 

This  firm  writes  as  follows :  We  are  in  receipt  of  your  valued 
favor  of  the  I4th  instant,  together  with  the  enclosure  of  the  various 
tests  of  canteens.  We  observe  that  two  of  ours  proved  leaky,  while 
the  others  bursted.  We  also  take  note  of  the  fact  that  other  canteens 
fared  no  better.  These  tests  are  indeed  valuable  to  every  manu- 
facturer of  canteens,  and  you  may  rest  assured  that  if  given  another 
opportunity  we  are  still  in  the  race.  We  think  that  we  would  know 
how  to  make  a  canteen,  and  confess  that  we  think  your  tests  rather 
severe.  We  especially  observe  your  remark  of  a  canteen  of  the  oval 
type,  concaved  on  the  side  which  comes  next  to  the  body,  and  convex 
on  the  outer  side,  to  hold  48  fluid  ounces.  To  prove  to  you  that  we 
can  make  such  canteens  (in  fact,  we  have  made  flasks  of  just  that 
particular  type),  we  are  forwarding  to  you  one  under  separate  cover, 
which,  by  the  way,  you  need  not  return  if  you  care  to  keep  it.  There 
is  but  one  hitch  in  this  particular  canteen,  that  is  to  fasten  the  rings 
by  which  the  canteen  is  carried.  Just  as  soon  as  we  attempt  to  rivet 
there  it  makes  the  weakest  point  in  the  canteen.  We  may,  however, 
find  some  other  way  to  overcome  this.  We  should  very  much  like 
to  send  you  one  of  the  requisite  size,  but  as  there  is  considerable 
expense  connected  therewith  to  produce  it,  we  hesitate  until  we  hear 
further  from  you.  You  can,  of  course,  readily  understand  that  each 
and  every  manufacturer  competing  in  this  matter  is  desirous  of  ob- 
taining an  order  with  some  profit  to  himself.  It  is,  therefore,  we 
speak  as  we  do ;  we  prefer  for  the  present  not  to  make  the  larger  size, 
which  we  know  would  be  perfect,  especially  if  made  of  one  piece  as 
you  suggest.  Now,  if  you  think  it  would  pay  us  to  go  into  it  and 
make  the  dies  and  tools  for  producing  a  canteen  of  that  kind,  we  are 
willing  to  take  the  chances  as  regards  the  test,  but  if  there  are  no 
prospects,  we  would  very  much  thank  you  to  tell  us  so. 

Thanking  you  kindly  for  having  given  us  the  opportunity  to  look 
over  the  tests,  we  remain,  etc. 

THE  REYMOND  &  GOTTLOB  ALUMINUM  CANTEEN. 

Some  of  the  canteens  to  which  the  consideration  of  the  military 
men  are  invited  are  picnic  affairs,  suited,  perhaps,  for  a  tourist,  or  a 


24  HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

bicyclist  on  a  summer  outing,  but  not  adapted  in  construction,  vsha 
capacity,  durability  or  rigidity  for  military  purposes. 

Of  this  class  is  the  aluminum  canteen,  retail  price,  $1.50,  sold  by 
Messrs.  Reymond  &  Gottlob,  831  Broadway,  N.  Y.  Its  weight,  in- 
cluding cover,  is  8  oz.  It  is  of  circular  shape,  fig-drum,  cheese-box 
appearance,  covered  with  a  single  thickness  of  what  may  be  felt. 
Dimensions,  6  in.  cfiameter,  2.\  in.  deep.  It  is  not  seamless;  flask 
not  of  one  piece.  It  is  said  to  be  spun.  No  solder  is  said  to  be  used. 
The  felt  covering  buttons  upon  the  outer,  or  convex,  base  of  the 
flask  by  flat-headed  glove-buttoning  fastenings,  and  the  sling,  J  in. 
wide,  is  of  strap  leather.  It  is  doubtful  whether  the  button  fastening 
method  would  be  durable. 

Being  filled  to  its  capacity  (29  fluid  ounces)  with  water  having  a 
temperature  of  94  degrees  F.,  it  was  exposed  with  others  in  the  open 
air  at  a  temperature  varying  from  4  degrees  F.  to  10  degrees  F. 
At  the  end  of  four  hours  the  contents  dropped  to  32  degrees.  After 
an  exposure  of  six  hours,  the  contents  were  frozen,  and  it  leaked  in  all 
succeeding  tests. 

Its  resisting,  or  non-conducting,  properties  are  about  the  same 
as  the  Government  regulation  service  canteen,  ordnance  pattern, 
which  is  protected  by  "Petersham"  (or  shoddy  felt),  and  canvas 
cover.  Perhaps  it  should  be  rated  a  little  above  the  Karlsruhe,  Baden, 
Germany,  aluminum  canteen  when  covered  by  the  single  felt  German 
method. 

Messrs.  Reymond  &  Gottlob  are  importers  of  aluminum  fancy 
goods  and  novelties,  branch  at  109  Fulton  street,  factory,  115-121 
East  Thirteenth  street,  New  York.  The  firm  writes  as  follows : 
"We  can  make  the  desired  canteen,  provided  it  is  ordered  in  fair- 
sized  quantities,  and  if  you  could  submit  a  sample  of  one  you  think 
the  most  useful,  we  would  be  thankful  to  you.  We  have  no  connec- 
tion with  any  European  house,  and  would  not  know  what  is  desired 
for  your  purpose. 

We  truly  believe  that  our  canteen  is  superior  to  any  one  in  the 
market  and  has  no  equal.  As  to  durability,  it  outlasts  any  one,  besides 
being  as  pure  as  gold,  and  will  not  rust  or  change  any,  and  think  it  is 
the  most  useful  thing  for  the  army. 

We  are  very  anxious  to  have  you  make  a  trial,  and  kindly  ask 
you  to  report  to  us  the  results.  Further,  wish  to  say  that  we  have  sold 
these  to  a  good  many  officers  of  the  U.  S.  Army,  and  every  one  has 
given  our  canteens  the  highest  praise. 

We  have  tried  over  and  again  to  get  the  Government  interested 
in  the  same,  but  there  seems  to  be  a  hitch  somewhere  which  we  can- 
not explain. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


of  Wales  Metal/io,  /?*<?/£,  shaded,  to 
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t     33  S/ujj  w^es.  frfaxtrt  fy  tfo  i«»x C*nU*»  C*t 


26  HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

We  guarantee  every  one  of  ours  to  be  water-tight,  and  eve 
soldering  can  be  done  on  them." 

THE  PRESTON  FIELD  RATION  MESS  KIT. 

Gradually  the  armies  of  the  world  are  adopting  aluminum  fc 
mess  kits,  and  the  Ordnance  Department  of  the  U.  S.  Army  has  fc 
a  number  of  years  been  testing  the  qualities  of  aluminum  for  th: 
purpose.  Owing  to  the  Cuban  and  Philippine  wars,  these  tests  ha\ 
been  somewhat  delayed,  but  during  the  last  year  the  department  he 
issued  to  the  service,  for  trial,  one  thousand  sets  of  the  Preston  Mes 
Kit. 

This  kit  was  patented  March  3,  1896,  by  Lieutenant  Guy  1 
Preston,  U.  S.  A.,  and  is  made  by  the  Scovill  Manufacturing  Con 
pany,  Waterbury,  Conn.  The  retail  price  of  same,  complete,  is  $4-5< 

A  glance  at  the  illustrations  will  demonstrate  the  improY< 
ment  in  compactness  and  convenience  over  any  kit  now  in  use.  Bein 
made  wherever  possible,  of  aluminum,  it  has  the  additional  advantag 
of  increased  lightness,  and  strength  as  well.  Its  weight,  with  cove 
is  2  Ibs.  5  oz.  The  only  metals  used  in  any  way  are  aluminum,  ti 
and  iron,  so  that  no  injurious  salts  can  be  formed  by  corrosion. 

Following  is  a  description  of  articles  of  which  the  kit  is  con 
posed : 

The  Canteen  Proper. — This  has  a  capacity  of  little  over  thre 
pints.  It  is  made  of  heavily  coated  tin,  soldered  at  its  joints.  Tin  : 
used  rather  than  aluminum,  because  as  yet  no  satisfactory  solder  hz 
been  found  for  aluminum,  and  the  canteen  could  not  well  be  mad 
without  joints.  The  cork  has  a  cap  of  aluminum  to  keep  the  cornet 
from  crumbling  when  inside,  and  cannot  be  lost  because  of  a  chai 
and  bar  which  hang  on  the  inside  of  the  canteen. 

Frying  Pan. — This  is  made  of  aluminum  with  a  heavily  tinne 
steel  handle,  which,  when  packed,  swings  back  on  a  hinge  and  lie 
flat  on  the  bottom  of  the  pan.  A  very  ingenious  and  durable  devic 
with  a  sliding  pin,  which  cannot  be  lost,  is  used  for  holding  the  hand) 
in  position  when  in  use.  The  pan  is  about  I  inch  in  depth  and  fit 
over  the  side  of  the  canteen  when  in  the  canvas  cover.  This  f ryin 
pan  has  a  cover,  which  is  its  counterpart  in  size  and  shape,  and  fil 
over  the  other  side  of  the  canteen  when  inside  of  the  canvas  cove; 
This  may  be  used  as  another  cooking  pan  or  serving  dish.  It  has  n 
handle,  but  may  be  locked  tightly  over  the  top  of  the  frying  par 
thus  making  a  case  for  carrying  rations  or  may  be  slipped  loosely  ove 
the  frying  pan,  thus  making  a  fine  baker. 

Cup  or  Sauce  Pan. — This  is  made  of  aluminum  with  a  heavil 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  2/ 

tinned  steel  handle,  which,  when  packed,  closes  within  the  cup.  When 
in  use,  a  small  gravity  catch  keeps  the  handle  in  its  proper  position. 
The  cup  is  strongly  reinforced  where  the  handle  is  riveted  on,  so  that 
the  weight  of  its  contents  will  not  work  it  loose.  This  cup,  when 
packed,  slips  over  the  bottom  of  the  canteen,  which  it  fits  snugly. 

Canvas  Cover. — This  is  very  strongly  made  of  the  best  brown 
canvas.  A  strong  canvas  strap  with  an  adjoining  buckle  is  securely 
sewed  about  the  bottom  end  of  the  cover.  This  cover  may  also  be 
furnished  with  D  rings,  when  desired,  to  take  the  regular  cavalry 
carrying  strap  issued  by  the  Quartermaster's  Department.  The  top 
of  the  cover  is  laced  tight  about  the  canteen,  leaving  but  the  neck 
exposed.  Inside  is  a  double  lining  of  gray  felt,  which  is  secured  to 
canvas.  This  is  to  keep  the  water  cool.  The  aluminum  pans  are  also 
a  help  in  this  respect,  as  aluminum  is  a  bad  conductor  of  heat.  A 
pocket  is  sewed  to  the  inside  of  the  canvas  to  hold  the  knife,  fork 
and  spoon,  which  are  made  of  steel,  very  heavily  tinned  and  silver 
plated.  Being  made  of  steel  they  are  strong  and  can  easily  be  kept 
sharp,  and  being  tinned  they  do  not  become  rusty. 

Captain  W.  C.  Brown,  First  U.  S.  Cavalry,  is  quoted  as  stating 
that :  "The  Preston  Mess  Outfit  is  very  convenient  and  suitable  for 
officers'  use,  but  the  aluminum  sheet  used  for  the  frying  pan  and 
plate,  are  rather  too  thin  to  withstand  the  rough  usage  which  they  will 
get  in  the  hands  of  enlisted  men." 

THE  COWLES  CAN  TEH  x. 

Name  of  inventor,  John  T.  Cowles,  224  East  Washington  street, 
Chicago,  111.,  alleged  to  have  assigned  same  to  Mr.  George  Lanz,  183 
Lake  street,  Chicago,  a  manufacturer  of  leather  goods,  and  who  has 
furnished  ordnance  leather  equipments  to  the  Ordnance  Department 
U.  S.  Army,  also  to  English  forces  now  in  South  Africa. 

This  invention  relates  especially  to  army  contracts  for  the  use  of 
foot  and  mounted  soldiers,  but  may  be  adapted  as  well  for  large 
water  receptacles,  such,  for  example,  as  may  be  used  for  carrying  a 
temporary  supply  of  water  for  horses  in  cavalry  and  artillery  service. 

The  object  of  the  invention  is  to  provide  means  for  more  effectu- 
ally preserving  the  temperature  of  water  either  in  hot  or  cold 
weather.  For  individual  use,  the  flask  of  the  canteen  is  of  the  usual 
double  convex  type.  It  is  a  canteen  in  combination,  basing  its  merits, 
in  part,  upon  the  physical  principle  of  convection.  A  covering  of  fib- 
rous material  is  applied  to  the  flask  and  impregnated  with  a  non-heat- 
conducting  material.  There  is  a  filling  of  corrugated  fibrous  paper 
interposed  between  the  fibrous  covering  and  spaced  apart  from  an 


28  HISTORY    OF    Till':    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

outer  rigid  shell,  which  encloses  the  whole.     The  walls  of  the  shel 
have  rigid  supports.    The  shell  has  a  textile  cover. 

The  canteen  is  provided  with  the  usual  nozzle  and  chained  stop- 
per. The  materials  used  to  impregnate  the  felt,  or  other  fibrous 
material  used  as  a  cover  to  the  flask,  are  said  to  be  sulphate  of  alum- 
inum, common  salts,  and  sulphate  of  ammonia,  or  the  three  mixed. 
It  is  stated  that  the  inventor  does  not  desire  to  be  limited  to  these 
particular  substances,  as  there  are  many  materials  which  may  be 
applied  to  a  fibrous  carrying  substance  with  greater  or  less  efficiency, 
the  process  being  to  conveniently  impregnate  the  fibrous  material  by 
saturating  it  with  a  solution  of  the  substance  and  then  drying  it  out. 

The  covered  flask  is  encased  in  a  shell  of  sheet  metal,  spaced 
apart  from  the  fibrous  cover,  so  as  to  leave  an  air  chamber.  To  the 
case  there  is  applied  the  usual  fibrous  jacket,  and  this,  in  turn,  is 
enclosed  by  means  of  a  canvas  cover  which  is  openable  through  a 
portion  of  its  circumference,  the  seam  along  the  edge  of  the  flask- 
being  permanently  stitched  from  the  nozzle  in  each  direction  for  a 
short  distance  and  through  the  remainder  of  the  circumference  of  the 
flask  being  closed  by  lacing,  so  that  the  canvas  cover  may  be  opened 
for  the  purpose  of  admitting  moisture  to  the  fibrous  material,  whereby 
the  cooling  effect,  due  to  evaporation,  is  secured. 

See  "Lanz  Canteen"  for  this  form  of  laced  canvas  cover. 

The  shell  has  a  cross-rib  support  applied  to  its  inner  face  central 
as  to  the  sides  of  the  flask  and  bearing  against  the  fibrous  cover,  so 
that  the  shell  will  not  be  easily  indented.  The  corrugated  paper  used 
as  filling  is  impregnated  with  a  non-heat-conducting  material.  One 
form  of  the  shell  of  the  Cowles  canteen  is  corrugated,  the  corruga- 
tions being  arranged  meridianally  as  to  the  shell  and  being  of  maxi- 
mum depth  across  its  equator  and  disappearing  at  its  polar  portions. 

The  inventor  claims  that  by  the  use  of  the  outer  covering  of  felt 
protected  by  a  close  woven  fabric,  such  as  canvas,  the  benefit  is 
secured  of  the  long  continued  effect  due  to  slo\v  evaporation,  the  felt 
having  been  saturated  when  the  canteen  is  full. 

The  canteens  heretofore  made  have  proved  inadequate  as  to 
means  for  keeping  the  water  sufficiently  cool  to  be  palatable  in  hot 
climates.  For  this  reason  "the  expedient  named  is  supplemented  in  the 
canteen  forming  the  subject  of  this  mention,  by  the  metallic  casino- 
enclosing  the  flask  in  such  manner  as  to  form  with  the  walls  thereof 
an  air-space.  The  advantage  gained  by  this  construction  is  decidedly 
augmented  by  the  layer  of  fibrous  material  applied  directly  to  the 
flask,  and  by  but  partially  filling  the  air-space  between  it  and  the 
casing,  this  fibrous  material  being  itself  a  good  non-conductor  of 
heat,  but  being  rendered  far  more  efficient  in  this  regard  by  being 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAXTEEX.  2Q 

impregnated    with   the   substances   named,    which   possess    very  low 
conductivity. 

By  supplementing  these  features  with  the  corrugated  paper  placed 
with  the  air-space  named,  a  further  marked  advantage  is  secured, 
not  only  because  of  the  efficacy  of  the  paper,  especially  when 
impregnated  with  the  materials  named  above  as  non-conductors,  but 
because  of  the  sub-division  of  the  air-space  into  numerous  cells, 
thereby  preventing  the  circulation  of  air  and  the  consequent  trans- 
mission of  heat  by  convection. 

The  principle  of  the  invention  is  not  limited  to  this,  or  any  other 
canteen  form,  but  is  equally  applicable  to  a  flask  or  tank  of  any 
shape. 

THE  LANZ  CANTEEN. 

Name  of  inventor,  William  Lanz,  and  manufacturer,  Mr.  George 
Lanz,  183  Lake  street,  Chicago,  111. 

The  canteen  is  one  of  the  few  articles  of  equipment  that  the  prop- 
erly trained  soldier  will  never  part  with.  Every  question  in  war 
should  be  considered  in  the  aspect  of  what  men  can  do,  and  will  do, 
when  fatigued.  Mr.  George  Lanz  is  a  reputable  wholesale  manu- 
facturer and  contractor  for  leather  goods.  He  has  made  a  large 
number  of  saddle  bags,  pistol  holsters,  etc.,  for  the  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment, U.  S.  Army,  and  for  the  British  service. 

This  invention  relates  to  army  canteens  and  the  like,  and  its  object 
is  to  provide  such  a  cover  for  the  sheet  metal  flask,  of  which  such 
articles  are  usually  composed,  that  it  will  more  effectually  prevent 
changes  of  temperature  of  the  contents  than  has  heretofore  been 
accomplished.  The  usual  reliance  for  acomplishing  this  object  has 
been  a  jacket  of  a  substance  called  felt,  or  of  a  mixture  of  cotton  or 
jute  mixed  with  wool,  called  felt,  covered  with  canvas,  which  jacket 
is  so  intended  that  by  the  process  of  evaporation  the  contents  of  the 
flask  will  remain  cool. 

This  means  for  preventing  the  contents  of  the  flask  from  becom- 
ing warm  has  been  inadequate  because  the  outer  covering  of  the  can- 
teen has  usually  been  of  finely  woven  canvas,  or  like  fabric,  which  is 
very  nearly  water-proof,  and  hence,  although  water  may  have  been 
poured  upon  the  canteen,  or  the  latter  may  have  been  dipped  into 
water,  the  moisture  would  not  penetrate  the  canvas  covering,  and 
hence  the  inner  lining  of  cotton  and  jute  mixed  with  wool  felt  would 
remain  dry. 

The  form  of  construction  now  in  use  by  the  U.  S.  Army  also  is, 
of  course,  practically  valueless  as  a  means  of  preventing  the  contents 
of  the  canteen  from  becoming  frozen  in  cold  weather. 


3O  HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

One  form  of  the  Lanz  invention  consists  in  covering  the  flask 
with  a  material,  or  a  layer  of  material,  having  a  low  heat-conducting 
character,  and  placing  over  the  layer  an  envelope  of  water-proof 
material,  so  that  the  inner  layer  will  never  become  wet ;  upon  this 
envelope  is  superimposed  the  usual  jacket,  or  jackets,  of  fibrous 
material,  such  as  felt,  and  this  in  turn  is  covered  with  canvas  or  sim- 
ilar textile  fabric,  closely  woven,  so  that  it  is  almost  impervious  to 
water. 

This  outer  cover  is  openable,  its  seam  being  in  part  formed  by 
lacing,  so  that  it  may  be  readily  opened  for  renewal  or  for  the  pur- 
pose of  permitting  moisture  to  freely  enter  the  felt  jacket  when  the 
canteen  is  immersed  in  water. 

The  invention  consists  further  in  making  the  canteen  with  one  of 
its  sides  flattened  or  slightly  concave. 

Drawings  illustrating  this  invention,  side  elevation,  edge  view 
and  transverse  section,  are  in  the  possession  of  the  inventor  at  Xo. 
183  Lake  street,  Chicago,  111.  (See  page  31.) 

'  The  flask  is  the  usual  rounded  double  convex  form,  except  that 
one  of  its  sides  is  made  slightly  concave,  so  that  it  may  rest  more 
easily  upon  the  hip  of  the  user  when  slung  from  the  shoulder.  The 
flask  is  provided  with  the  usual  nozzle  closed  by  a  stopper  provided 
with  a  chain  and  ring. 

A  layer  of  non-heat-conducting  material  is  applied  to  the  body  of 
the  flask,  preferably  granular  cork  is  used  for  this  purpose,  and  it 
may  be  secured  to  the  canteen  by  first  coating  the  latter  with  a  suit- 
able cement  and  then  sprinkling  the  cork  upon  it  while  the  cement 
is  moist ;  or  the  cork  may  first  be  molded  into  a  shell  adapted  to  fit 
snugly  against  the  side  of  the  flask.  Other  forms  of  the  Lanz  can- 
teen omit  this  layer. 

This  layer  of  material  is  enclosed  in  an  envelope  of  water-proof 
material.  For  this  purpose  oilcloth  is  preferably  used,  though  any 
material  which  will  prevent  water  from  gaining  access  to  the  cork 
will  serve. 

Upon  the  envelope  is  superimposed  a  layer,  or  layers,  of  fibrous 
material,  preferably  felt,  and  this,  in  turn,  is  encased  in  felt,  wool, 
canvas  or  other  fabric.  This  cover  is  made  in  two  sections,  one 
applied  to  each  side  of  the  flask,  the  two  being  joined  by  a  seam  which 
may  be  permanently  and  closely  stitched  from  the  nozzle  part  way 
round  the  canteen ;  but  through  a  considerable  portion  of  this  seam, 
preferably  exceeding  one-half  of  the  circumference  of  the  canteen, 
lacing  is  used. 

In  use,  the  lacing  is,  or  may  be,  opened  after  the  flask  is  filled, 


HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


32  HISTORY    OK    TT1K    MILITARY    C. \XTKKX . 

and  the  canteen,  if  the  water  or  weather  he  warm,  is  then  immersed 
in  water  so  that  the  felt  jacket  may  become  thoroughly  saturated. 
The  lacing  is  now  drawn  tightly  so  as  to  prevent  the  air  from  gain- 
ing access  to  the  felt,  and  thereby  the  process  of  evaporation  is 
greatly  retarded,  so  that  under  ordinary  circumstances  the  felt  will 
continue  moist  for  a  number  of  hours. 

The  layer  of  cork,  or  other  material,  prevents  the  heat  from  pass- 
ing through  the  walls  of  the  flask  when  the  temperature  of  the  felt 
jacket  is  raised  above  that  of  the  contents  of  the  canteen,  so  that  the 
water  remains  cool  and  palatable  for  many  hours  after  the  flask  is 
filled. 

The  office  of  the  water-proof  envelope  is  to  prevent  the  layer  of 
non-heat-conducting  material  from  becoming  weighted,  and  hence,  in 
time,  foul,  and  also  to  prevent  the  metal  of  which  the  flask  is  formed 
from  corroding. 

In  cold  weather  the  felt  is,  of  course,  not  moistened,  and,  being, 
when  dry,  an  effective  non-conductor  of  heat,  it,  with  the  inner  layer 
of  cork,  or  similar  material,  will  prevent  the  liquid  within  the  can- 
teen from  parting  with  its  heat  for  a  considerable  period,  so  that  .he 
danger  of  freezing  is  greatly  lessened. 

While  the  construction  heretofore  mentioned  may  be  preferable 
to  any  other,  the  water-proof  layer  of  non-heat-conducting  material 
may  be  omitted  and  the  jacket  of  fibrous  material  be  applied  directly 
to  the  body  of  the  flask,  enclosing  it  within  the  canvas  cover  which 
is  openable  for  the  purpose  of  admitting  moisture  to  the  felt,  and 
may  then  be  closed  by  lacing,  so  as  to  greatly  retard  the  process  of 
evaporation.  Many  of  our  old  soldiers  have  learned  that  a  woolen 
stocking  leg  pulled  over  a  canteen  helps  to  keep  the  contents  cool. 

An  English  patent  of  1884  describes  a  canteen  with  a  felt  cover- 
ing and  a  leather  cover  laced  over  it.  An  Italian  patent  of  1871 
refers  to  a  felt  and  flannel  laced  cover  for  a  canteen.  It  is  claimed 
that  neither  of  these  can  accomplish  what  is  claimed  for  the  canteens 
made  by  Mr.  George  Lanz,  183  Lake  street,  Chicago,  111.,  viz. :  Re- 
tard the  evaporation.  Experimental  tests  have  been  made  by  Mr. 
Lanz  demonstrating  varying  and  relative  results,  using  a  canteen 
with  a  leather  cover,  with  a  flannel  cover,  with  a  canvas  cover. 

The  merits  of  the  Lanz  made  canteen  are  that  it  will  keep  cool 
water  at  a  low  temperature,  reduce  high  temperatured  water  to  a 
drinkable  temperature,  or  warm  liquid  at  a  high  temperature,  longer 
than  any  other  canteen  now  in  use  by  any  military  power. 

These  results  are  accomplished  by  enveloping  or  casing  the  can- 


HISTORY  OK  TIII-:  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  33 

teen  with  a  non-conducting  substance,  such  as  wool,  felt,  cork  or 
granulated  cork,  sometimes  in  conjunction  with  a  certain  cement. 

Another  device  of  his  manufacture  is  to  encase  the  protected  can- 
teen by  an  outer  shell  of  metal,  there  being  an  air-space  between  the 
shell  and  the  enveloped  canteen.  The  shell  is  held  away  from  the 
canteen  by  two  beveled  cork  buffers.  These  buffer  heels  also  protect 
the  canteen.  The  whole  is  then  covered. 

It  is  designed  that  each  soldier  shall  carry  one,  suspended  by  a 
strap  from  the  shoulder,  to  carry  cool  water,  hot  coffee,  or  whatever 
beverage  may  be  obtainable  on  the  march  or  in  the  field. 

It  is  claimed  that  the  drinkable  properties  of  the  liquid  continue 
for  a  longer  period  than  by  any  other  device  patented,  or  used,  by 
any  army. 

The  Lanz  canteen  is  not  a  tin  flask  enveloped  with  a  thin  mixture 
of  cotton,  wool  or  jute,  then  canvas  covered. 

The  patentee  makes  the  canteen  of  aluminum,  and  also  of  various 
other  metals,  or  combinations  of  metals ;  likewise  of  wood,  paper 
pulp,  caoutchouc,  etc. 

In  shape,  the  circular  form  is  generally  preserved,  but  one  face  is 
convex,  the  other  being  concave.  When  slung,  the  concave  face  is 
next  to  the  body  of  the  wearer.  A  filter  may  be  fastened  to  the  noz- 
zle or  mouth,  if  desired.  The  capacity  may  be  from  three  pints 
upward,  same  as  model,  Ordnance  pattern,  U.  S.  Army.  The  cavalry 
model  canteen  is  of  larger  capacity  than  the  one  designated  for  the 
equipment  and  transportation  of  foot  soldiers. 

The  weight  of  the  Lanz  canteen  is  about  six  (6)  ounces  in  excess 
of  the  U.  S.  canteen  of  the  same  capacity,  forty-six  (46)  fluid  ounces 
of  water,  being  twenty  (20)  ounces  of  avoirdupois. 

The  following  tests  are  reported  by  him,  five  (5)  canteens  being 
used : 

First  test.  No.  I,  U.  S.  canteen,  as  issued  by  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment. No.  2,  Lanz  canteen.  No.  3,  another  Lanz  canteen.  Tem- 
perature of  hydrant  water  with  which  each  canteen  was  filled,  fifty- 
fiye  (55)  Fahrenheit.  Exposure  at  rest,  115.  Time  of  exposure,  6 
hours.  Results:  No.  i,  U.  S.  canteen,  94.  No.  2,  Lanz  canteen,  76. 
No.  3,  Lanz  canteen.  72. 

Second  test.  No.  i,  U.  S.  canteen,  as  issued  by  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment. No.  2,  Lanz  canteen.  No.  3,  Improved  Lanz  canteen.  Tem- 
perature of  water  at  time  of  filling  each  canteen,  55  Fahrenheit. 
Canteens  suspended  at  rest  and  exposed  for  5  hours  to  a  temperature 
of  135.  The  exterior  surface  of  each  canteen  was  dry  before,  and 


34  HISTORY  OF  rrn-:  MILITARY  CANTEEN. 

during,  the  test.    Results:    Xo.  [,U.  S.  military  canteen,  114.    X<>.  j, 
Lanz  canteen,  90.    No.  3,  Improved  Lanz  canteen,  84. 

Third  test.  No.  i,  U.  S.  canteen,  as  issued  by  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment. No.  2?  Braided  Lanz  canteen,  wet.  No.  3,  Braided  Lanz 
canteen,  dry.  No.  4,  Arizona  canteen,  cavalry  size,  dry.  No.  5, 
Braided  Lanz-Cowles  canteen,  granulated  cork  cased,  dry.  Tem- 
perature of  water  when  each  canteen  was  filled,  55  Fahrenheit.  All 
canteens  suspended  remained  at  rest  during  test.  Time  of  exposure 
to  a  temperature  constantly  of  136  Fahrenheit,  5  hours.  Results: 
No.  i,  U.  S.  canteen,  104.  No.  2  Braided  Lanz  canteen,  wet,  92 
No.  3,  Braided  Lanz  canteen,  dry,  94.  No.  4,  Arizona  canteen, 
cavalry  size,  dry,  92.  ( Memorandum  :  The  quantity  of  water  in  the 
Arizona  canteen  was  double  that  placed  in  any  of  the  other  canteens.) 

Mr.  Lanz  has,  he  states,  tested  made  coffee,  also  tea,  just  off  the 
fire,  in  his  canteens,  and  then  placed  them  in  an  ice-chamber — and 
claims  that  for  use  in  the  winter  season,  Arctic  regions,  etc.,  the  non- 
conducting properties  of  his  canteens  have  demonstrated  like  superior 
relative  value. 

He  states,  also,  that  he  has  attached  various  canteens  to  men  on 
the  march,  to  horses.,  moving  bicycles,  railway  cars,  etc.,  thus  assimi- 
lating to  conditions  of  actual  service,  with  results  proving  the 
superiority  of  his  inventions.  One  of  his  canteens  is  made  of  cor- 
rugated material. 

In  this  connection,  attention  is  invited  to  my  report,  dated  20  Jan., 
1899,  from  Headquarters,  ist  Division,  2d  Army  Crops,  Camp  Mac- 
kenzie, Augusta,  Ga.,  reiterating  previous  recommendation  that  can- 
teens should  be  covered  with  felt,  or  wool,  inside  the  canvas  cover. 

It  is  now  recommended  that  whatever  canteen  be  adopted — the 
flask  be  thoroughly  covered  with  wool,  felt,  flannel,  or  by  a  non-con- 
ducting fabric,  or  substance. 

The  Lanz  canteen  is  based  on  rational  principles.  The  improve- 
ments in  the  service  canteen  have  not  kept  pace  with  the  developments 
in  every  other  portion  of  the  equipment  or  accoutrement  of  our 
soldiers ;  they  have  suffered  needlessly  because  not  provided  with 
canteen  which  would  keep  water  at  a  drinkable  temperature  in 
tropical  regions  and  during  the  heated  season. 

Hence  it  is  recommended  that  a  thousand,  or  more,  be  ordered,  for 
issue,  trial,  practical  use  in  the  field,  and  special  reports. 

Further,  that  the  attention  of  the  Chief  of  Ordnance,  also  of  the 
Board  of  Fortification,  Ordnance,  and  Equipment,  be  invited  to  the 
device. 

A  defect  of  the  U.  S.  canteen  is  that  the  covering  will  not  retain 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


35 


Afeta//7'c  /7ffs%,  opacity  32  f/wd  ox.  Screw  top 
the  /oH/er7?a/f  of  the  5 be//  of  the  f/asTc  ?*  re/nova  &/e 
for  use  as  a  drink w  ctsp.  Sulmtite-d,  ?>  the 


36  HISTORY    OF    TIIK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

moi'stiire  in  1n»t  weather,  hence  contents  of  canteen  become  unpala- 
table. 

Air.  George  Lanz  claims: 

1.  In  combination,  a  flask,  a  layer  of  low-heat-conducting  char- 
acter covering  the  flask,  a  waterproof  envelope  for  such  covering ;  a 
jacket  of  fibrous  material  superimposed  upon  the  envelope  and  an 
openable  cover  of  close  woven  textile  fabric  for  the  jacket. 

2.  In  a  canteen,  in  combination,  a  flask,  a  layer  of  granulated 
cork  covering  the  flask,  a  waterproof  envelope  for  such  covering,  a 
jacket  of  fibrous  material  superimposed  upon  the  envelope,  and  a 
canvas  cover  for  the  jacket,  such  cover  being  composed  of  two  sec- 
tions joined  together,  in  part,  by  lacing. 

3.  In  a  canteen,  in  combination,  a  flask,  a  jacket  of  uninter- 
rupted absorbent  material  therefor,  and  an  openable  cover  for  the 
jacket  made  of  close  woven  fabric. 

4.  He  claims  the  herein  described  method  of  retarding  the  rise 
of  temperature  of  a  liquid  in  an  environment  of  a  relatively  higher 
temperature  consisting  in  enclosing  the  liquid  in  a  flask  moistening 
the   exterior   of  the  flask  and   retarding  the   evaporation  of   such 
moisture. 

Some  of  his  canteens  are  protected  by  felt  1-8  of  an  inch  in 
thickness ;  some  by  2-8-inch  felt ;  some  by  3-8-inch  felt ;  some  by  4-8- 
inch  felt. 

Some  have  I -8-inch  layer  of  granular  cork;  some  2-8-inch  cork; 
some  3-8-inch  cork  layer  next  the  flask. 

Some  have  both  felt  and  cork  of  varying  thickness  over  the  flask 
— but  all  of  the  patterns  of  Lanz  canteens  have  outside,  the  canvas 
laced  up,  openable  cover.  He  claims  to  use  only  the  best  imported 
piano  felt. 

At  Camp  Lake  View,  Minn.,  during  the  week  iQth  to  27th  July, 
1900,  some  tests  of  the  Lanz  canteen  as  compared  with  the  U.  S. 
canteen  as  at  present  issued  by  the  Ordnance  Department,  U.  S.  A., 
were  made  by  Asst.  Surgeon  Asa  Friend  Goodrich,  Medical  Corps, 
N.  G.  S.  M.,  and  ist  Lieut.  Wm.  Arthur  Carleton,  ist  Regt.  Infantry, 
N.  G.  S.  M. 

The  Lanz  canteen  was  the  property  of  Capt.  Wm.  H.  Hart, 
Brigade  Quartermaster,  Minnesota  National  Guard. 

I  was  present  at  some  of  the  tests  and  loaned  what  I  call  my 
Arizona  canteen  to  be  tested  with  the  other  canteens  named. 

One  of  the  tests  involved  carrying  a  canteen  attached  to  the 
saddle  and  carried  for  several  hours  in  a  hot  sun  on  a  horse  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  receive  warmth  from  the  bodv  of  the  horse. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  37 

The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  endorsement  of  the  Lanz  canteen 
by  Capt.  W.  H.  Hart.  Reports  were  also  made  by  Dr.  Goodrich  and 
Lieut.  Carleton : 

"Camp  Lake  View,  Lake  City,  Minn.,  July  29,  1900.  Mr.  George 
Lanz,  Manufacturer  and  Patentee  Lanz  Canteen,  183  Lake  Street, 
Chicago,  111.  Sir :  I  am  satisfied  that  when  a  metal  flask  containing 
water  is  covered  with  felt  that  has  been  saturated  with  water  and  the 
felt  then  covered  with  canvas  that  is  laced  up  tight  so  as  to  minimize 
the  access  of  air,  the  retarded  evaporation  operates  to  keep  the  con- 
tents of  the  flask  palatably  cool  for  a  longer  period,  and  at  a  lower 
temperature,  than  by  any  other  process  known  to  me.  The  higher 
the  atmospheric  temperature  the  better,  so  long  as  the  felt  is  kept 
moist. 

"You  sent  me  for  test  and  trial  one  of  your  canteens.  The  flask 
held  about  forty-five  (45)  fluid  ounces.  It  had  a  layer  of  granulated 
cork  stuck  on  to  canvas  and  varnished,  I  think.  Over  that  layer  was 
a  felt  cover  about  a  quarter  of  an  inch  thick.  Over  that  was  an  open- 
able  canvas  cover  laced  up  like  Colonel  Reade's. 

''The  Government  canteen  cover  is  of  flimsy  material  and  cannot 
absorb  nearly  as  much  water  as  a  canteen  covered  with  fine  piano  all- 
wool  felt. 

"I  caused  two  officers  of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard  to  con- 
duct a  series  of  tests  of  your  canteen  at  this  place  a  few  days  ago,  as 
compared  with  the  U.  S.  Government  canteen  as  issued  by  the  Ord- 
nance Department,  U.  S.  A. 

"Col.  Reade's  canteen,  the  one  he  used  in  June-August,  1898,  in 
Santiago  de  Cuba,  was  borrowed  for  comparative  test  by  these  two 
officers.  His  canteen  was  covered  with  common  saddler's  felt  covered 
with  a  laced  canvas  cover. 

"Every  care  was  exercised  to  make  the  conditions  uniform;  all 
canteens  were  filled  at  the  same  time ;  quantity  of  water  in  each  the 
same ;  immersed  fairly ;  same  exposure ;  one  thermometer  used  in 
testing. 

"My  personal  judgment  is  based  upon  the  results  of  those  tests, 
and  you  can  refer  to  me  as  one  who  condemns  the  present  Govern- 
ment canteen  and  would  like  to  see  it  superseded  by  the  Lanz  canteen. 

"For  what  sum  per  hundred  can  you  recover,  by  your  process,  the 
U.  S.  canteens  now  in  the  hands  of  the  Minnesota  National  Guard? 

W.H.HART. 

"Captain  and  Brigade  Quartermaster, 
"National  Guard,  State  of  Minnesota." 


38  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

In  witnessing  these  tests,  several  questions  were  in  my  mind : 
For  use  in  tropical  regions — 

1.  Did  the  inner  cork  jacket  of  one  form  of  Lanz  canteen  do  any 
good? 

2.  Did  the  waterproof  layer  (oilcloth,  resin,  cement,  or  varnish), 
whatever  the  substance  might  be,  used  to  protect  the  inner  layer,  do 
any  good  ? 

3.  Was  the  Lanz  theory  of  having  next  to  the  flask  a  layer  of 
material  having  low  heat-conducting  properties  covered  with  a  water- 
proof substance  in  order  to  prevent  water  from  gaining  access  to 
the  cork  jacket,  correct  ? 

4.  If  the  inner  jacket,  so  isolated,  aided  to  keep  the  contents  of 
the  flask  palatable,  was  it  commensurate  with  the  enhanced  cost  and 
weight  ? 

5.  Would  it  not  be  better  to  discard  this  inner  jacket  and  sub- 
stitute a  like  amount  in  weight  of  fibrous  or  textile  material,  as  in 
the  Arizona  canteen  which  has  the  felt  material  applied  directly  to  the 
flask? 

Using  five  (5)  Lanz  canteens,  and  two  (2)  U.  S.  A.  canteens,  as 
issued  by  the  Ordnance  Department,  I  have  since  witnessed  the  fol- 
lowing test : 
No.  i,  Lanz  canteen,  cover  3-8-inch  gran,  cork  ;  also  3-8-inch  felt  and 

canvas  cover. 
No.  2,  Lanz  canteen,  cover  i -8-inch  gran,  cork ;  also  2-8-inch  felt  and 

canvas  cover. 
No.  3,  Lanz  canteen,  cover  i -8-inch  gran,  cork  ;  also  3-8-inch  felt  and 

canvas  cover. 

No.  4,  Lanz  canteen,  cover,  no  gran,  cork ;  3-8-inch  felt  and  also  can- 
vas cover. 

No.  5,  Lanz  canteen,  cover,  no  gran  cork  ;  i -2-inch  felt  and  also  can- 
vas cover. 
Nos.  7  and  8,  U.  S.  Government  canteens  as  issued  at  present. 

The  seven  canteens  were  filled  with  water  of  the  same  tempera- 
ture— 66  degrees  F.,  and  at  the  same  time. 

Quantity  of  water  in  each  Lanz  canteen,  one  45,  one  46  ounces. 
All  seven  canteens  were  immersed  in  water  for  the  same  length 
of  time — about  fifteen  minutes — after  the  lacing  of  each  of  the  Lanz 
canteens  had  been  loosened. 

The  laces  in  the  Lanz  canteens  were  then  tightened  up  again  and 
all  seven  canteens  suspended  above  the  roof  of  a  four-storied  build- 
ing, where  full  circulation  and  exposure  to  air,  light  and  heat,  with- 
out contact,  was  maintained  for  six  (6)  consecutive  hours.  Beside 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  39 

each  canteen  hung  a  thermometer,  from  which  hourly  readings  were 
taken  and  outside  temperature  noted  and  recorded. 

At  9  o'clock  a.  m.,  temperature  was  90  degrees  F. 
At  10  o'clock  a.  m.,  temperature  was  94  degrees  F. 
At  ii  o'clock  a.  m.,  temperature  was  93  degrees  F. 
At  12  o'clock  m.,  temperature  was  97  degrees  F. 
At  i  o'clock  p.  m.,  temperature  was  98  degrees  F. 
At  2  o'clock  p.  m.,  temperature  was  99  degrees  F. 
At  .3  o'clock  p.  m.,  temperature  was  99  degrees  F. 

After  these  six  (6)  hours'  exposure,  the  contents  of  the  canteens 
showed  temperature  as  follows  fa  thermometer  had  been  inserted  in 
each  canteen)  : 

Lanz  canteen,  No.  i,    77  degrees  F. 

Lanz  canteen,  No.  2,  78  degrees  F. 

Lanz  canteen  No.  3,    78  degrees  F. 

Lanz  canteen,  No.  4,    78  degrees  F. 

Lanz  canteen,  No.  5,    77  degrees  F. 

U.  S.  canteen,  100  degrees  F. 

U.  S.  canteen,  102  degrees  F. 

On  another  occasion,  three  (3)  canteens  were  tested,  viz.: 

Lanz  canteen,  No.  i. 
Lanz  canteen,  No.  4. 
U.  S.  Government  canteen  as  issued. 

These  three  canteens  were  rilled  with  water,  66  degrees  F.,  and 
placed  on  the  roof  of  a  high  building,  so  that  one  flat  side  of  each 
canteen  was  exposed  to  the  sun  for  seven  (7)  consecutive  hours, 
from  8.30  a.  m.  to  3.30  p.  m.  A  thermometer  was  placed  beside  each 
canteen  and  also  inserted  into  each  one  after  the  seven  hours'  ex- 
posure. 

The  temperature  was  noted  as  follows : 

8.30  a.  m.,  outside  temperature,  95  degrees  F. 

9.30  a.  m.,  outside  temperature,  105  degrees  F. 

10.30  a.  m.,  outside  temperature,  115  degrees  F. 

11.30  a.  m.,  outside  temperature,  120  degrees  F. 

12.30  p.  m.,  outside  temperature,  125  degrees  F. 

1.30  p.  m.,  outside  temperature,  125  degrees  F. 

2.30  p.  m.,  outside  temperature,  120  degrees  F. 

3.30  p.  m.,  outside  temperature,  115  degrees  F. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


coe/r  air 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  4! 

I  have  personally  made  the  following  tests,  conducting  same  from  my  office,  Army 
Building,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

TEST  No.  1. 


Kind  of  Canteen. 

Weight 
of 
Canteen. 

Holds 
ounces. 

Absorb- 
ent 
Capac- 
ity. 

Temper- 
ature of 
Water 
when 
placed  in 
Canteen. 

Temper- 
ature of 
Water  at 
Conclu- 
sion of 
Test. 

Dry 

07.. 

Wet 
oz. 

No    i    U   S    Government 

16 
15 

24^ 
40 

I7'2 
l8>/2 

40 
40 

82 

44 

:i 

86 

& 

3/2 

\lx 

42 

76 
76 

7£ 
76 

76 

90 
92 

76 
76 

7« 

No    2      "               " 

No.  3,  Lanz,  single  cork  and  g-inch  felt,  can- 

No   4   Lanz   A-inch  felt,  canvas  outside..!.. 

No.  5,  Reade,  Arizona,  saddler's  felt,  canvas 
outside                            ..   

Outside  temperature: —  9  a.  m.,  ; 

10  "         86     " 

11  "         92     "     F. 

12  m.,        94     "     F. 

1  p.  m.     76     "     F. 

2  "        93     "     F. 

3  «         89    "     F.  . 

Canteens  suspended   over  roof.     The   exterior  cover   of  each  canteen  was   wet 
before  making  the  test.     Time  of  exposure,  at  rest,  six  (6)  hours. 


TEST  No.  2. 


Kind  of  Canteen. 

Weig 
Can 

Dry 
ozs. 

16 

15 

25 

24^ 

40 

24 
22 

htof 
een. 

Wet 
ozs. 

i7# 

1  8^ 

40 
40 

82 

34^ 
30 

Holds 
ounces 

45 

46 

45 
46 

86 

45 

45 

Absorb- 
ent 
Capac- 
ity. 

Tern  pera- 
ture  of 
Water 
when 
placed  in 
Canteen. 

Tempera- 
ture of 
Water  at 
Conclu- 
sion of 
Test. 

Xo    I    US    Government 

I# 

31A 

Jl* 

42 

10% 

8 

64 
64 

64 
64 

64 

64 
64 

•89 

89 

7* 
7* 

76 

76 
•80 

No.  3,  Lanz,  single  cork  and  ^-inch  felt, 
canvas  outside. 

No.  4,  Lanz,  %  -inch  felt,  canvas  outside.. 
No.  5,  Reade,  Arizona,  saddler's  felt,  can- 
vas outside 

No.  3,  Lanz,  XXX  tin,  single  cork,  J^-inch 
with  waterpoof  covering,  ^-inch 
felt.  (Loaned  by  Dr.  A.  F.  Good- 
rich) 

No.  4,  Lanz,  XXXX  tin,  ^-inch  felt,  no 
cork,  canvas  cover.  (Loaned  by 
Dr.  A.  F.  Goodrich)  

Outside  temperature: —  9  a.  m.,  80  deg.  F.  I  p.  m.,  90  deg.  F. 
10  "  74  "  F.  2  "  93  "  F. 
u  "  83  "  F.  3  "  92  "  F. 
12  in.,  90  "  F. 

Canteens  suspended  at  rest,  above  roof,  where  free  circulation  and  exposure  to 
sunlight  and  heat,  without  contact,  was  maintained  for  six  (6)  consecutive  hours.  The 
outer,  or  canvas,  cover  was  saturated  before  making  the  test, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.   3. 


Weight  of                    Absorb- 

Tf  mpera- 
ture  of 

Tempera- 
ture of 

Kind  of  Canteen. 

Canteen. 

Holds         ent 
ounces.   Capac- 

Water 
when 

Water  at 
Conclu- 

Dry !  Wet 

ity. 

placed  in 

sion  of 

OZS.    |  OZS. 

Canteen. 

Test. 

No     I      U     S     Qrivfmmpnt 

72 

Q4. 

u 

7^ 

96 

No.  3,  Lanz, 

72 

78 

No.  4,       " 

72 

76 

No.  5,  Reade, 

>•  As  described  in  Test  No.  2 

As     iii 

Test     Xo.    2. 

72 

SO 

No.  3,  Lanz, 

72 

78 

No.  4,      " 

72 

75 

Outside  temperature: —  8  a.  m.,  76  deg.  F.  I  p.  m.,  93  deg.  F. 

9     "         82     "     F.  2     "         92     "     F. 

10  "         90     «     F.  3     «         90    "     F. 

11  "         92     "     F.  4     «         88     "     F. 

12  m.,        93     "     F. 


Canteens  suspended  at  rest  above  roof,  where  free  circulation  and  exposure  to 
sunlight,  without  contact  with  one  another,  was  maintained  for  eight  (8)  consecutive 
hours.  Covers  were  wet  before  making  test. 


TEST  No.   4. 


Kind  of  Canteen. 

Weight  of 
Canteen. 

Holds 
ounces. 

Absorb- 
ent 
Capac- 

Tempera- 
ture of 
Water 
when 

Tempera- 
ture of 
Water  at 
Conclu- 

Dry 

Wet 

ity. 

placed  in 

sion  of 

OZS. 

OZS. 

Canteen. 

Test. 

No    I    U.  S.  Government 

78 

No   2       "                 " 

/  ° 
78 

•^ 

No.  3,  Lanz,    "] 

78 

77 

No.  4,      "         1 

78 

76 

No.  5,  Reade,  ^  As  described  in  Test  No.  2 

As 

in 

Test 

No.  2. 

78 

ND.  3,  Lanz,     j 

78 

76 

No.  4,       "          | 

78 

76 

Outside  temperature,  and  temperature  of  water,  each  hour,  in  each  canteen, 
during  Test  No.  4. 


Hour. 

Outside 

c 

ANTKJiN 

Temperature 

No.  i. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

No.  4. 

No.  5. 

No.  3. 

No.  4. 

8  a   m 

72 

78 

78 

78 

78 

78 

78 

7S 

0      "    • 

8l 

7r 

'? 
7fi 

7° 

•:S 

7° 
78 

/° 

1° 

/° 

~x 

10       " 

85 

3 
78 

/" 

7C 

7° 

78 

75 
78 

/4 
76 

11 
76 

II 

I  I        "                 • 

86 

76 

7^ 
76 

'  s 

76 

/u 
76 

/° 
78 

12  m  

87 

77 

u 
7Q 

/" 

77 

/u 
76 

/4 
76 

7^ 
76 

/° 

78 

I  p.  m 

80 

82 

86 

76 

/? 
76 

/u 

76 

2     " 

88 

80 

76 

/u 

76 

/:) 

/j 

76 

~l    " 

88 

°y 
02 

V1 
Q2 

/u 

77 

/u 
76 

10 

76 

75 

7C 

/u 
76 

i     " 

88 

Q2 

Q-7 

77 

76 

76 

-6 

76 

y* 

yj 

II 

/u 

/u 

/" 

/w 

Canteens  suspended  at  rest  above  roof,  where  free  circulation  and  exposure  to  sun- 
light,  without  contact  with  one  another,  was  maintained  for  eight  (S)  consecutive 
hours.  Covers  were  drv  before  makin""  test. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


43 


TEST  No.   5. 


Kind  of  Canteen. 

Weight  of 
Canteen. 

Holds 
ounces 

Absorb- 
ent 
Capac- 
ity. 

Tempera- 
ture of 
Water 
when 
placed  in 
Canteen. 

Tempera- 
ture of 
Water  at 
Conclu- 
sion of 
Test. 

104 
103   ^ 

80 

81 

80 
80 
90 
90 

86 
92 

Dry 
ozs. 

Wet 
ozs. 

No    i    U   S    Government                        .... 

As 

14 
H 
«4 

in 

20 
20 
20 

Test 

48 
48 
48 
48 

No.  2. 

6 
6 
6 
6 

80 

80 
80 
80 
80 
80 
80 

85t 

85* 

85t 
85t 

No   2       "                 " 

No.  3,  Lanz,    "j 
No.  4,      "        .| 
No.  5,  Reade,  }-  As  described  in  Test  No.  2. 
No.  3,  Lan/, 
No.  4,      " 

No   2A        "                 "                     .... 

No   3A'      "                 "                                   + 

"Contents  spilled  before  conclusion  of  test. 

tThese  canteens  were  exposed  one  hour  only,  from  3  to  4  o'clock  p.  m. 

JCanteen    No.  3  A,    is  a  U.  S.  Government  canteen  having  a  leg  of   a  woolen  stocking  pulled 
over  its  covering. 

Outside  temperature,  and  temperature  of  water,  each  hour,  in  each  canteen, 
during  Test  No.  5. 

i CANTEEN. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

No. 
i. 

No. 

2. 

No. 
3- 

No. 
4- 

No. 
5- 

No. 
3- 

No. 
4- 

No. 
lA. 

No. 

2A. 

No. 
3A. 

Tin 
Flask 

8  a.  m  
9  "  

IO   "  
U   "  
I  ->  111  .  ... 

79 

84 
88 

9i 

Q4. 

80 
78 
78 
80 

81 

80 

78 
78 

79 

Si 

80 

79 
78 
80 
80 

80 
80 
80 
80 

82 

80 
80 
80 
80 

81 

80 

79 
79 
80 

81 

80 
78 
78 
80 

82 

I  p.  m.  .  .  . 

2   "  

3  "  ---- 
4  "  .... 

IOO 
100 
IOO 

97 

1  02 
104 

103 
103 

82 
80 

82 
81 

81 
80 

81 
80 

85 
90 

85 
90 

85 
86 

85 
92 

Wind,  ten  miles  an  hour  during  this  test.     Canteens  were  in  constant  motion. 
Four  ounces  of  water  taken  from  each  canteen  every  hour  for  the  first  four  hours. 


TEST  No.  6. 


Weight  of 

Absorb- 

Tempera- 
ture of 

Tempera- 
ture of 

Kind  of  Canteen. 

Canteen. 

Holds 
ounces. 

ent 
Capac- 

Water 
when 

Water  at 
Conclu- 

Dr7 

Wet 

ity. 

placed  in 

sion  of 

ozs. 

ozs. 

Canteen. 

Test. 

No.  i,  U.  S.  Government 

?6 

98 

No.  2,     " 

76 

y 

98 

No.  3,  Lanz,     1 

/ 

76 

-7 

82 

No.  4,      " 

76 

80 

No.  5,  Reade,    }-  As  described  in  Test  No.  2 

As 

give 

n  in  T 

ests 

76 

80 

No.  3,  Lanz,       1 

No 

s.  2  an 

cl  5- 

76 

82 

No.  4,      " 

76 

82 

No.  I  A,  U.  S.  Government  

76                 98 

No.  2A,       "                  "             

76                 98 

No.  3A,      "                "           

76                 84 

Tin  Flask  (not  covered)  

76                 98 

44  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

Outside  temperature,  and  temperature  of  water,  each  hour,  in  each  canteen, 
during  Test  No.  6. 


c 

ANTEEl 

n. 

Hour. 

Temp. 

No. 
i. 

No. 

2. 

No. 
3- 

No. 
4- 

No. 

No. 

•3 

No. 

4- 

No.  j  No. 
lA.   2A. 

No. 
3A- 

Tin 
Flask. 

8  a.  in  .  . 

9   "  •- 
10   •'  .  . 
u   "  .  . 
1  2  in 

83 
78 
82 

86 

86 

76 

72 
72 

74 
78 

76 

72 

72 

75 
82 

76 

74 
74 
74 

7d. 

76 

74 
74 

75 

7  <» 

76 

75 
75 
75 

75 

76 
76 

75 
75 

7  ^ 

76 

74 

1 

76 

76  1  76 
78  !  74 
80  !  75 
82  !  78 
8?   82 

76 

74 
74 
74 

7  A. 

76 
80 

84 

86 
86 

I  p.  m  .  . 

2   " 
i   « 
J 

4  '   •- 

90 
92 
94 
92 

84 
89 

94 
98 

84 
9° 
94 
98 

76 

82 

76 

g 

80 

76 

H 

80 

76 

78 
80 
82 

77 
79 
82 
82 

86  ;  86 
90  |  90 

92  j  94 
92  1  98 

76 

80 
82 
84 

S9 
92 

94 
98 

During  Test  No.  6,  all  of  the  canteens  were  constantly  in  motion, 
due  to  the  wind.  Every  hour  each  canteen  was  dipped  and  four  (4) 
ounces  of  water  poured  out ;  thus  the  quantity  of  water  in  each  can- 
teen was  hourly  reduced  in  bulk. 

The  advantage  of  the  cork  and  felt  combined  as  opposed  to  an 
equal  thickness  of  felt  covering  is  scarcely  appreciable. 

FURTHER  EXPERIMENTAL  TESTS  MADE  WITH  THE  U.  S.  CANTEEN 
AND  THE  LANZ  CANTEEN. 

Tests  by  Second  Lieutenant  F.  W.  Healy,  Eighth  Infantry,  and 
by  A.  A.  Surgeon  R.  M.  Fletcher,  Jr. : 

Lieut.  F.  W.  Healy,  Eighth  Infantry,  filled  a  canteen,  patented 
by  Mr.  William  Lanz,  183  Lake  street,  Chicago,  111.,  with  water; 
temperature,  56  degrees  F. 

The  canteen  was  then  placed  against  the  wire  fender,  or  spark 
arrester,  screening  the  wood  fire  of  the  open  fire-place,  and  allowed 
to  remain  there  for  ten  (10)  hours. 

At  the  expiration  of  that  time  the  temperature  of  the  water  in 
the  Lanz  canteen  was  found  to  be  70  degrees.  A  Government  can- 
teen, similarly  exposed,  had  a  temperature  of  82  degrees. 

On  the  following  day,  Lieut.  Healy  tested  the  Lanz  canteen,  also 
a  canteen,  Ordnance  pattern,  issued  to  a  member  of  Company  D, 
Eighth  \j.  S.  Infantry,  in  the  following  wise: 

Each  canteen  was  immersed  in  water,  temperature,  56  degrees  F., 
for  about  two  minutes,  and  each  canteen  was  then  filled  with  water 
of  the  temperature  named.  The  capacity  of  the  Lanz  canteen  was 
46  fluid  ounces ;  that  of  the  Government  canteen  47  ounces. 

They  were  then  placed  so  as  to  receive  in  equal  proportion  the 
direct  action  of  a  wood  fire  burning  in  the  fire-place  of  the  quarters 
occupied  by  Lieut.  Healy. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


45 


the  per  sow  . 


for  its 


46  HISTORY    OK    Till-:    MILITARY    CAXTEKX. 

Four  hours  later  the  temperature  of  each  canteen  was  taken  by 
Acting  Assistant  Surgeon  R.  M.  Fletcher,  Jr.,  Post  Surgeon,  Fort 
Assinniboine,  with  the  following  results,  viz. :  Lanz  canteen,  70 
degrees ;  Government  canteen,  74  degrees. 

The  canteens  were  then  thrown  into  an  army  wagon  and  trans- 
ported up  Beaver  Creek,  ten  miles  and  back;  in  all,  twenty  (20) 
miles. 

The  difference  in  temperature  was  then  found  to  be  twelve  (12) 
degrees,  the  Lanz  canteen  being  the  lower  temperature. 

The  canteens  were  used  on  the  following  day  by  a  party  of  duck 
hunters  and  jolted  around  for  several  hours  in  the  sun.  The  differ- 
ence in  temperature  was  found  to  be  twelve  (12)  degrees,  the  Lanz 
canteen  containing  the  more  palatable  water. 


I  am  informed  that  when  the  application  for  the  Lanz  patent  No. 
655979,  August  15,  1900,  was  pending,  the  Patent  Office  cited,  as 
reference  against  the  claims,  the  following  patents : 

British  patents  to  Blakeny,  1163  of  1884; 

British  patents  to  Sothcott,  2453  of  1878; 

Italian  patents  to  Bouffier,  10397  °f  June  23<  x^79; 

American  patent  to  Hiramo  W.  Hanmore,  White  Plains.  X.  V., 
296955;  April  15,  1884; 

American  patent  to  Brauer,  244374,  July  19,  1881. 

The  two  American  patents  are  said  to  be  of  the  least  importance, 
relating  simply,  Hanmore,  to  a  water  cooler  comprising  a  can  having 
its  bottom  and  side  walls  covered  with  "a  non-conducting  covering 
of  raw  silk  waste  and  calcined  or  carbonate  of  magnesia,"  and  an 
outer  jacket  of  wood ;  and,  Brauer,  to  an  ice-house,  or  ice-box,  or 
refrigerator,  in  box  form,  and  having  hollow  walls  packed  with 
granular  cork,  and  having  an  outer  wall  for  enclosing  an  air  space. 

The  Sothcott  patent  showed  a  flask  encased  in  either  felt  or 
leather.  The  low  conductivity  of  the  cover  was  the  reliance,  the 
patentee  not  depending  upon  evaporation  and  not  rendering  it  pos- 
sible to  practice  this  method  of  cooling  when  he  used  a  leather  cover, 
and  not  making  any  provision  for  retarding  the  evaporation  should 
he  saturate  the  felt  cover 

The  Bouffier  patent  discloses  a  flask  having  a  covering  of  tresses, 
or  braids,  of  cellular  sea  weed,  straw  or  paper  pulp,  including  a 
quantity  of  air,  and  an  outer  covering  of  cotton  or  linen  cloth,  or 
this  outer  covering  may  be  of  felt  or  rubber  and  made  detachable  for 
cleaning  purposes. 

The  drawings  of  this  patent  show  a  familiar  structure,  but  it 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  47 

appears  that  the  principle  of  action  depended  upon  is  entirely  differ- 
ent, the  patentee  depending  simply  upon  the  low  conductivity  of  the 
material  used,  and  of  the  air  enclosed  within  its  cells,  for  keeping  the 
contents  of  the  canteen  cool.  The  patent  gives  no  hint  of  an  evaporat- 
ing process,  nor  does  it  describe  a  construction  which  provides  for 
the  practicing  of  any  such  method  should  it  be  desired. 

The  Blakeny  patent  shows  a  flask,  preferably  of  glass,  having  an 
inner  covering  of  felt,  and  an  outer  covering  of  leather,  and  this 
outer  cover  is  shown  as  secured  by  lacing. 

No  advantage  can  be  secured  from  a  Blakeny  evaporation  process 
in  a  structure  made  after  the  specification  of  this  patent,  for  the  rea- 
son that  the  leather  cover  practically  wholly  prevents  evaporation. 

It  is  claimed  that  in  all  other  cases,  except  the  Lanz,  means  were 
provided  for  stimulating,  rather  than  retarding,  evaporation. 

The  only  devices  known  to  me  for  securing  the  cooling  action  by 
evaporation  may  be  divided  into  three  classes,  viz. : 

1.  Those  in  which  an  outer  envelope  is  saturated  by  a  single 
application  of  moisture,  as  by  dipping  or  sprinkling,  and  is  then 
allowed  to  dry  out.     The  present  regulation  army  canteen  is  an  ex- 
ample of  this  class. 

2.  Those  in  which  an  outer  envelope  is  continuously  saturated 
by  capillary  action,  a  reservoir  being  supplied  from  which  water  is 
drawn  by  the  fabric  of  which  the  envelope  is  composed. 

3.  Those  in  which  the  receptacle  itself  has  porous  walls  through 
which  the  liquid  contents  of  the  receptacle  exude. 

A  distinction  between  the  Ordnance  pattern  army  canteen  and  the 
Lanz  canteen  is,  that  one  has  its  cover  permanently  attached,  and 
the  other  has  its  cover  openable.  Owing  to  this  difference,  there 
results  a  different  principle  of  action  in  practical  use  of  the  two 
devices.  It  is  impracticable  to  easily  thoroughly  saturate  the  one, 
thus  failing  to  secure  the  benefits  of  a  prolonged  evaporative  action. 
In  the  other  it  is  entirely  practicable  to  thoroughly  saturate  by  sim- 
ply unlacing  the  cover  and  dipping  the  canteen  and  then  replacing  it. 

Instances  of  the  second  type  of  coolers,  in  which  there  is  a  con- 
tinuous water  feed  to  the  jacket,  are  found  in  the  following  U.  S. 
patents : 

Bernhard  Moobius,  296432,  April  8,  1884,  Chihuahua,  Mexico. 

James  Goddard  Lamb,  568259,  Sept.  22,  1896,  Wellington,  New 
Zealand. 

Kingston  Gordon,  149852,  April  21,  1874,  Richmond,  N.  Y. 

John  Rutten,  102595,  May  3,  1870,  West  Chester,  Pa. 

Albert  McDowell,  424125,  March  25,  1890,  Selma,  Cal. 


48  HISTORY    OK    THK     MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

In  none  of  these  instances  is  the  idea  of  retarding  evaporation 
present ;  on  the  contrary,  means  are  provided  for  stimulating  it. 
Most  contain  suggestions  that  the  device  should  be  located  in  such 
position  that  there  will  he  a  circulation  of  air  about  it  so  that 
evaporation  may  be  permitted. 

The  third  type  of  coolers  is  found  in  the  following  patents : 

William  Morrow  and  William  Symington,  415366,  Nov.  19,  1889, 
Kansas  City,  Mo. 

Richard  Kelly,  135432,  Feb.  4,  1873,  Red  Bank,  Cal. 

Charles  G.  Jordan,  273097,  Feb.  27,  1883,  Catlin,  Col. 

Valentine  Stuyvesant,  419230,  Jan.  14,  1890,  Denver,  Col. 

Jahon  V.  Frost,  556744,  March  24,  1896,  Los  Angeles,  Cal. 

The  Frost  shows  a  cooler  made  of  porous  material,  such  as  terra 
cotta,  so  that  its  liquid  contents  may  seep  through  its  walls,  which 
are  covered  with  asbestos.  This  patent  shows  an  effort  to  retard 
evaporation  by  covering  the  asbestos  with  a  layer  of  wool  twisted 
into  cords  and  wound  thereabout.  It  is  not  a  removable  cover,  and, 
if  applied  to  a  canteen,  would  operate  on  a  principle  different  to 
the  Lanz. 

Other  patents  are : 

(a)  British  patent  to  Cochran,  508,  of  1869. 

(b)  British  patent,  to  Johnson,  1972,  of  1888. 

(c)  American  patent,  to  Lazare,  36641,  of  Oct.  14,  1862. 

(d)  American  patent,  to  Beers,  32541,  of  June  11,  1859. 

(d)  American  patent,  to  Bournum,  37273. 

(e)  American  patent,  to  Heneage,  31154. 

(f)  American  patent,  to  Pilger,  275697. 

(g)  American  patent,  to  Roumillat,  222158. 
(g)  American  patent,  to  Tunnions,  59875. 
(h)  American  patent,  to  Farciot,  46094. 

(h)  American  patent,  to  Bartholomae,  32744. 
(i)  British  patent,  to  Sombart,  5963,  of  1883. 
(j)  British  patent,  to  Girrard,  12792,  of  1889. 

(a)  Flask  with  either  felt  or  leather  jacket.     Low  conductivity 

of  the  jacket  only  reliance  for  cooling  action. 

(b)  Flasjt  with  tightly  fitting  canvas  cover. 

(c)  Canteen  made  of  leather,  rendered  waterproof,  lined  with 

tinfoil. 

(d)  Both  relate  to  canteens  made  of  wood  and  without  covering. 

(e)  Compartment  canteen. 

(f)  Relates  to  construction  of  bucket.     No  outer  cover. 


HISTORY    OF    Till-:    MILITARY    CAXTEKN. 


49 


(g)   Both  relate  to  stoppers  for  bottles  or  canteens,  or  the  like. 

(h)   Relate  to  the  form  of  canteen. 

(i)     Flask   covered   with   an  absorbent  material   adapted   to   be 

saturated  from  which  there  may  be  free  saturation, 
(j)   Cooler  with  a  felt  jacket,  which  dips  into  an  ice  or  water- 
filled    receptacle,    so   as    to    carry    the    moisture    up   by 
capillary  action.      No   provision   is   made   for   retarding 
the  evaporation. 

None  of  the  patents  herein  discussed  contain  claims  which  domi- 
nate the  Lanz  canteen,  and  my  conclusion  is  that  the  latter  does  not 
infringe  any  existing  patent  and  that  the  rational,  mechanical  and 
physical  principle  upon  which  it  is  constructed  make  it  advisable 
to  purchase  a  thousand  or  more  for  test  and  report  at  the  hands  of 
troops  now  serving  in  tropical  or  arctic  regions. 

TESTS  MADE  AT  FORT  MEADE,  S.  D. 

On  Oct.  26,  1900,  the  Post  Surgeon,  Fort  Meade — Samuel 
Melville  Waterhouse,  Medical  Dept.,  U.  S.  A. — began  experimental 
tests  using  the  Government  canteen,  as  issued  by  the  Ordnance 
Dept.,  U.  S.  A.,  and  the  Lanz  canteen,  patent  of  William  Lanz,  183 
Lake  St.,  Chicago,  111. 

TEST  No.  i. 

Weight  of  tin  flask  of  Government  canteen,  empty,  12  ounces. 

Weight  of  Government  canteen,  complete,  dry,  15  ounces. 

Weight  of  Lanz  canteen,  dry,  17  ounces. 

Capacity,  fluid  ounces,  of  Government  canteen,  48  ounces. 

Capacity,  fluid  ounces,  of  Lanz  canteen,  40  ounces. 

Weight  of  Government  canteen,  after  thorough  immersion,  17 
ounces. 

Weight  of  Lanz  canteen  after  thorough  immersion,  23  ounces. 

Weight  of  felt  covering  of  Government  canteen,  dry,  i  ounce. 

Weight  of  felt  covering  of  Government  canteen,  wet,  6  ounces. 

Weight  of  duck  covering  of  Government  canteen,  dry,  2  ounces. 

Weight  of  duck  covering  of  Government  canteen,  wet,  3  ounces. 

Temperature  of  water  when  put  into  the  canteens,  56  degrees  F. 

Both  the  canteens  were  then  placed  in  a  hot  air  sterilizer  used^ 
as  an  incubator,  in  separate  compartments,  at  40  degrees  C,  equiva- 
lent to  100  degrees  F. 

After  an  exposure  of  one  hour,  the  temperature  of  water  in  each 
canteen  was  as  follows:  Government  canteen,  95  degrees  F.  Lanz 
canteen,  88  degrees  F. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


.Saden.  Germany  J/umft>im  77as?r.  ceucred  ly  theLanx 
u»'th  */t  trrck  Amsterdam  3/yc»ft  felt ;  opera b/e  canvascover. 
tkree  jot»c€9.  b>y£  Co/for.  GetOG'ty  +Z  f/W(t <Jl.t  tft.. 


HISTORY    <>r    THE     MILITARY    CANTEEN.  51 

TKST   Xu.   j. 

The  canteens  were  then  replaced  in  the  incubator  at  the  same 
temperature  as  above,  and  at  the  expiration  of  another  hour,  tem- 
perature was  as  follows  :  Government  canteen,  102  degrees ;  Lanz 
canteen,  95  degrees. 

After  another  hour  of  similar  exposure  the  temperature  was : 
Government  canteen,  132  degrees;  Lanz  canteen,  118  degrees. 

TEST  Xo.  3. 

Both  canteens  dry,  no  immersion,  were  filled  with  water  at  a 
temperature  of  147  degrees  and  placed  in  a  cold  storage  room  where 
the  uniform  temperature  of  38  degrees  F.  existed. 

Observations — After  first  hour,  Government  canteen,  no  de- 
grees, F. 

After  first  hour,  Lanz  canteen,  1 16  degrees,  F. 

After  second  hour,  Government  canteen,  90  degrees  F. 

After  second  hour,  Lanz  canteen,   108  degrees  F. 

After  third  hour,  Government  canteen,  74  degrees  F. 

After  third  hour,  Lanz  canteen,  97  degrees  F. 

TEST  No.  4. 

Conditions — The  canteens  were  filled  with  water,  the  tempera- 
ture of  which  was  50  degrees,  and  immersed  until  the  covers  were 
saturated.  They  were  then  placed  in  a  hot  air  sterilizer,  the  door 
of  which  was  kept  open.  The  thermometer  directly  in  contact  with 
the  hot  air  registered  a  temperature  of  127  degrees  almost  uniformly. 

The  observations  were  as  follows : 

After  a  lapse  of  one  hour  the  temperature  was,  Government,  70 
degrees ;  Lanz,  66  degrees.' 

After  the  lapse  of  two  hours,  the  temperature  was,  Government, 
78  degrees ;  Lanz,  72  degrees. 

After  the  lapse  of  three  hours,  the  temperature  was,  Government, 
82  degrees ;  Lanz,  76  degrees. 

TEST  No.  5. 

Conditions  of  this  test  \vere  as  follows  :  Canteens  were  immersed 
in  water  till  covers  were  thoroughly  saturated. 

Forty  (40)  ounces  of  water  of  56  degrees  F.  was  placed  in  each 
canteen.  The  canteens  were  then  suspended  four  inches  above  a 
radiator  in  the  hospital,  Fort  Meade,  S.  D.,  for  eight  (8)  hours 
and  the  radiated  heat  maintained  for  that  period  Between  95  degrees 
F.  £nd  98  degrees  F. 


52  HISTORY    <>K    Till-:    MIUTAKY    CANfEEtf, 

For  the  last  two  exposures  the  canteens  were  placed  in  direct 
contact  with  the  radiator,  a  uniform  temperature  of  99  decrees 
F.  being  maintained. 

The  observations,  made  hourly,  show  the  following: 

Expiration  of  the  first  hour,  10:45  a-  m-<  Government  canteen, 
60  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  60  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  second  hour,  u  :45  a.  m.,  Government  canteen, 

62  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  62  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  third  hour,  12  45  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 

63  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  63  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  fourth  hour,  I  :45  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 

64  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  64  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  fifth  hour,  2 145  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 
64  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  64  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  sixth  hour,  3:45  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 
66  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  65  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  seventh  hour,  4:45  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 
74  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen,  68  degrees  F. 

Expiration  of  the  eighth  hour,  5  :45  p.  m.,  Government  canteen, 
86  degrees  F. ;  Lanz  canteen  70  degrees  F. 

Under  ordinary  circumstances  the  Government  canteen  will  keep 
water  as  cool  as  the  Lanz  for  some  hours ;  but  after  the  water 
absorbed  by  the  U.  S.  canteen  has  evaporated,  the  Lanz  will  keep 
water  at  a  lower  temperature  than  the  U.  S.  canteen. 


TEST  MADE  AT  FORT  SNELLING,  MINN. 

By  Captain  A.  E.  Bradley,  Asst.  Surgeon,  U.  S.  A.,  Post  Sur- 
geon, with  the  U.  S.  A.  canteen  as  issued  by  the  Ordnance  Dept., 
and  the  Lanz  canteen,  patented  by  William  Lanz,  183  Lake  St., 
Chicago,  111.,  Nov.  7  to  13,  1900: 

Data: 

Weight  of  the  felt  covering,  I  ounce. 

Weight  of  the  canvas  covering,  2  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  felt  covering,  6  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  duck  covering,  3  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  tin  flask,  10  to  n  ounces. 

Weight  of  Government  canteen,  dry,  13  to  15  ounces. 

Weight  of  Government  canteen,  with  covers  on,  after  immersion 
10  minutes,  14  ounces. 

Weight  of  Government  canteen,  with  covers  on,  after  immersion 
12  hours,  1 8  ounces. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAXTEEX. 


53 


Capacity  of  the  Government  canteen.  42  to  47  ounces. 
Weight  of  the  Lanz  canteen,  dry,  16  ounces. 
Weight  of  the   Lanz   canteen,  wet,    10  minutes'   immersion,  22 
ounces. 

Capacity  of  the  Lanz  canteen,  42  ounces. 

Weight  of  canvas  cover,  Lanz  canteen,  dry,  3  ounces. 

Weight  of  canvas  cover,  Lanz  canteen,  wet,  4  ounces. 

EXPERIMENT  No.   1. 

Time  and  conditions  of  exposure. — The  canteens  being  filled  with  water,  temper- 
ature 54  deg.,  F.,  were  suspended  above  a  direct-indirect  radiator  for  eleven  (i  i)  hours, 
and  temperature  of  air  and  each  canteen  taken  hourly.  During  the  succeeding  two 
(2)  hours  the  canteens  were  placed  in  contact  with  the  radiator.  The  following  results 
were  obtained,  the  same  thermometer  being  used: 


TEMl'EKATURE. 


Time'                                                         Air. 

Govt. 
Canteen. 
All  Wet. 

Lanz 
Canteen. 
All  Wet. 

Lanz 
Canteen. 
Wet. 

8  a.  m 

66 
70 

72 
72 
86 
80 

72 

73 
67 
68 

72 

direct 

73 
80 

54 

56 

I 

61 

59 
58 
57 
57 
5» 

contact 
72 
82 

1    $ 

57 
57 
59 
59 
58 
58 
57 
57 
57 

with    ra 
66 
70 

54 
54 
5« 

59 
62 
62 
62 
62 
62 
61 
62 

diator: 
69 
74 

9" 

10      "      ....                    ... 

n     "     ..  . 

12  m      ...... 

i  p.  m  .                                

2      "      

~      " 

4      '        

c     " 

6     "     

At  6  o'clock  the  canteens  were   placed   in 
7  p.  in  

8     "     

EXPERIMENT 

Conditions  same  as  in  Kx 
I  p.  in  

No.  2. 

periment 
84 
86 
•    96 
89 
94 
92 
92 

No.  i. 

56 
60 

63 
64 
70 

72 
73 

56 
59 
63 
65 
66 
66 
66 

56 

t 

ll 

68 
68 
68 

2       "       ...       . 

3      " 

4     '      .  . 

5     "     „  

6     "     

7     " 
'                         

EXPERIMENT  No.  3. 

The  canteens,  being  filled  with  water,  temperature  54  deg.,  were  suspended  above 
the  kitchen  range  in  the  hood  designed  to  carry  off  odors  from  the  kitchen,  and  observ- 
ations made  hourly: — 


TKMPEKATURE. 


Time. 

Air. 

!      Govt. 
Canteen. 
:   All  Wet. 

Lanz 
Canteen. 
All  Wet. 

Lanz 
Canteen. 
Wet  Felt. 

8  a.  m  

1  2O 

<;6 

<;6 

*6 

9" 

I  IO 

84 

82 

74 

10      '         

I  }O 

I  IO 

104 

04 

u     "     

2OO 

128 

1  08 

JO"* 

54 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAM'EEN. 


EXPERIMENTS  Nos.  4  and  T>. 

In  these  experiments  the  canteens  were  placed  in  an  incubator  and  observations 
made  hourly.  The  average  temperature  of  the  incubator,  a  closed  box,  was  90  cleg. ,  I1'. 
The  results  showed  practically  the  same  temperature  at  all  hours  for  all  canteens. 


EXPERIMENT  No.   6. 

A  Government  canteen  and  a  Lanz  canteen  were  thoroughly  wet,  and  filled  with 
water,  temperature  58  deg.,  F.  They  were  placed  side  by  side  on  blocks  ot  wood  in 
an  oven  of  the  kitchen  range,  not  touching  the  sides  of  the  oven.  The  door  was  left 
open.  The  following  observations  were  noted: — 


TK.M  I'EKATURK 

lime. 

Air. 

Ciovt  Canteen. 

Lanz  Canteen. 

^OO 

c£ 

r« 

II      "               .    .    .  .       .         ..................... 

^24 

I  ci 

-)0 
08 

1  2  m 

">84 

1  88 

III 

EXPERIMENT  No.  7. 

Three  Government  canteens  and  one  Lanz  canteen,  coverings,  of  all,  dry,  were 
suspended  out  of  doors  in  a  tree  about  thirty  feet  from  the  hospital.  At  10  o'clock  a. 
m.,  temperature  of  air  40  deg. ,  F.,  they  were  filled  with  hot  water,  temperature  126 
deg.,  F.  Hourly  observations  were  made  as  follows: — 


Time. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Air. 

40 

41 
42 

38 
3« 

3f 
16 

Government    Cz 

No.  i.  I  No.  2. 

1 

nteens. 
N<».  3.- 

Lanz 
Canteen. 

10  a  m 

126 

9^ 
81 

65 

s* 

51 

4.7 

126 
92 
;6 
62 

55 
48 

A.6 

126 
74 
58 

47 
42 

39 
17 

126 
1  06 
90 

77 
70 
62 
c8 

n     "                   

12  111 

I   p.   Ill          .                   

2      " 

4      "      . 

11 J  STORY'    OF    TllM    MI  LIT  4V    CANTEEN 

i 

4? 


55 


.    naked,  4/urrrirtums  f/aak  —  t*>*rf6i  9  OZ.^ 

/ec«  rrvea     tvrt    ,si£««/  r/>r^s  attichect  £o  an  a/umirntm,  fay, 

' 


(*cac>4  two  ^/cces)  rt'vettct  tvthe  ffask  6y  meoyrs  of  two  r/'ve£s. 
l      tTre  LanZ.  Mfy.  Co.,    /&  JLafie  36. 
c(,  ox. 


wlrere  Jealraye 


*,   Cet/er  off, 
y  43   ox . /7«ted  fie* 


Canteen  awt  Stra/3  for  US. 
as  prescribed  6y  6.0. 


V:    5hefiny  £00/3 

U:    Black  CeHarLeolher 


56  HISTORY    OF 


Ooen  Air  Tests  Made 


HE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


Headquarters  Dept.  of  Dakota, 


j 

/I. 
'ST  No.   1. 

cir 

TEMPERATURE. 

Time. 

Air. 

Government  Canteens. 

Lanz 
Canteen. 

No.   i. 

' 

No.  2. 

• 

No.  3. 

40 
41 
42 
38 
38 

3* 
36 

126 

98 

81 
65 
58 
5i 

47 

126 
92 

76 

66 

*4 

46 

126 

? 

47 
42 
39 
37 

126 
100 
90 

77 
70 
62 

58 

11     " 

12  ni 

2      "                                               .    . 

^      " 

4.      " 

TEST  No.   2. 

Time. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Air. 

Government   Canteens. 

Lanz 

No. 
4- 

No. 

No. 
lA. 

172 

122 

88 
68 
54 
44 
38 
32 

No.  3A. 
Stocking  Leg 
Over  Canteen. 

I72 
126 
96 

78 
64 

54 
46 

40 

o  ;i.  ni 

16 

18 
18 
20 
18 
18 
18 
19 

172 
112 

78 

58 
46 

36 
32 
32 

172 
132 
102 

90 
76 
64' 
56 
5<> 

IO      " 

H    «    

12  m  ...  

I  p.  in 

2      "       

1      " 

4" 

TEST  No,  3. 


Time. 

TEMPERATURE. 

Outside. 

U.S.  Army 
Ord. 
Pattern. 
Capacity 
43ozs.** 

175 

126 
78 
50 

34 
34 

32 
32* 

Dubuque 
Stamp.  & 
Enamel 
Co.,    Par- 
ker Filter 
Capacity 
50025.** 

German 
Aluminum 
Flask. 
Capacity 
25025.** 

Lane 

Aluminum 
Flask. 
Capacity 
44  ozs.** 

Lanz 
Tin 
Flask. 
Capacity 

36  ozs.** 

9  a.  m  

5 
4 

6 
6 

8 

9 
9 

IO 

175 
104 

50 

32 

f. 

175 
96 

44 
32 
32 

175 
154 
138 
112 

94 
79 
64 
56 

175 

156 

122 

I  O2 

86 
70 
60 

5o 

IT        "        . 

12  m  

I  p.  m  

~     "     , 

.,     " 

3 

----  

'Slush  ice  formed— frozen— withdrawn. 
**FIuid  (Troy)  ounces,  not  avoirdupois. 

A  Preston  Mess  Kit  was  also  included  in  Test  No.  3,  with  following  results: — 


10  a.  m 175  cleg.,  F.        i  p.  m loocleg.,        A  p.  m 58  cleg. ,   F. 

11  "    162     "       F.        2     "     82     "  5     "     50     "        F. 

12  m 124     "       F.       3     "     70     " 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  57 

OPEX  AIR  TESTS  MADE  OE  CANTEENS  AND  CANTEEN  FLASKS  AT 

HEADQUARTERS,  DEPARTMENT  OF  DAKOTA,  SAINT 

PAUL,  MINNESOTA. 

To  facilitate  reference,  the  following  alphabetical  index  is  adopted. 

A.  — U.  S.  Army  Regulation  Service  Canteen,  Ordnance  Pattern: 

Double  Cover  felt  and  canvas.  Capacity,  43  fluid  ounces, 
weight  14  ounces,  avoirdupois.  (See  cut  A.) 

A-i.  — U.  S.  Army  Regulation  Canteen;  Double  Cover  felt  and 
canvas.  Capacity,  48  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  empty,  covers 
on  and  dry,  14  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight,  empty,  covers 
on  and  wet,  20  ounces,  avoirdupois. 

AA. — U.  S.  Army  Regulation  Canteen,  manufactured  at  Rock  Island 
Arsenal,  1900:  Double  Cover;  inner  of  Petersham  felt, 
outer  of  dyed  duck  or  canvas.  Capacity,  44  fluid  ounces. 
Weight,  covers  on  and  dry,  empty,  12  and  f  ounces,  avoir- 
dupois. Weight  of  tin  flask,  without  covers,  empty,  9  and 
1  ounces,  avoirdupois. 

B.  — r.  S.  Army  Regulation  Service  Canteen,  Ordnance  Pattern: 

Double  Cover  felt  and  canvas,  having  also  a  woolen  stock- 
ing leg  drawn  over  it.  Capacity,  45  fluid  ounces.  Weight 
16  ounces.  (See  cut  B.) 

BB. — Three  views.  (See  cut  BB.)  Combination  Canteen  and 
Filter.  Canteen  is  the  regulation  tin  flask  and  dou- 
ble cover,  made  at  Rock  Island  Arsenal,  October,  1898, 
with  a  specially  wide  mouth  to  accommodate  the  Mrs. 
Caroline  Parker  filter.  Capacity,  filter  in,  42  ounces, 
avoirdupois.  Fluid  ounces,  40.  Weight,  filled,  filter  in, 
filled,  covers  on  and  dry,  59  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight, 
filter  in,  filled,  covers  on,  after  ten  ( 10)  minutes'  immersion, 
64  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight  of  the  tin  flask,  no  cover, 
empty,  filter  out,  9  and  J  ounces,  avoirdupois. 

C.  — Dubuque   Stamping  &  Enamel  Co.     Canteen    (with  Parker 

Filter  in )  :  No  cover.  Capacity,  50  ounces.  Wreight  22 
ounces. 

CC— Seven  views.  (See  cuts  C,  CC,  CCC.)  Enameled  Metal 
Canteen  Flask,  bought  by  the  U.  S.,  January,  1900,  from 


58  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

Dubuque,  Iowa,  Enameling  Co.  Capacity,  44  and  J  ounces. 
Weight,  filled,  covers  on  and  dry,  64  and  f  fluid  ounces, 
avoirdupois.  Weight,  filled,  covers  on,  after  ten  (10) 
minutes'  immersion,  75  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight  of 
the  enameled  flask,  empty,  no  covers  on,  16  and  J  ounces, 
avoirdupois. 

D.  — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Aluminum  Flask:     No  cover. 

Capacity,  25  ounces.    Weight,  5  ounces.     (See  cut  D.) 

E.  — U;.  S.  Army  Regulation  Service  Tin  Flask,  Ordnance  Pat- 

tern, no  cover.  Capacity,  45  ounces.  Weight,  12  ounces. 
(See  cut  E.) 

F.  — Aluminum  Flask,  circular,  made  in  Newark,  N.  J.     Covered 

by  the  Lanz  method,  double  cover,  felt  and  canvas.  Ca- 
pacity, 44  ounces.  Weight,  16  ounces.  (See  cut  F.) 

G.  — Lanz   Tin   Flask   Canteen,   circular.      Covered   by  the   Lanz 

method,  J  inch  felt  and  openable  canvas  cover.  Capacity, 
36  ounces.  Weight,  25  ounces.  (See  cut  G,  four  views.) 

H.  — Arizona  Canteen.  Covered  with  saddler's  felt,  also  by  several 
thicknesses  of  flannel,  and  an  openable  canvas  cover,  Lanz 
method.  Capacity,  87  ounces.  Weight,  34  ounces.  (See 
cutH.) 

I.  — Preston  Mess  Kit,  Complete.  Double  cover,  felt  and  canvas. 
Capacity,  46  ounces.  Weight,  37  ounces. 

K.  — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Aluminum  Flask.  Covered  by 
the  Lanz  method,  J  inch  felt,  and  openable  canvas  cover. 
Capacity,  43  ounces.  Weight,  15  ounces.  (See  cut  K.) 

L.  — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Aluminum  Canteen,  with  carry- 
ing strap.  Covered  by  the  German  method,  single  felt. 
Capacity,  60  ounces.  Weight,  14  ounces.  (See  cut  L.) 

M.  — Newark,  N.  J.,  Aluminum  Canteen  Flask,  circular.  No  cover. 
No  solder  said  to  be  used.  Capacity,  48  ounces.  Weight, 
8  ounces. 

MM. — Newark,  N.  J.,  Aluminum  Canteen,  oblong  shape,  no  seams 
or  solder  said  to  be  used.  Weight  of  naked  flask,  9  and  :! 
ounces.  Capacity,  42  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  filled,  cover 
on  and  dry,  56  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Removable  single 


HISTORY    OK    T1IK     MILITARY    CANTEEN.  5<J 

cover,  felt,  laced  up  on  one  side  only,  Lanz  method  ;  high 
collar. 

N.  — Newark,  X.  ].,  Aluminum  Circular  Canteen  Flask.  Xo 
cover.  Xo  solder  said  to  be  used.  Capacity,  32  ounces. 
Weight,  6  and  ^  ounces. 

XX. — Newark,  X'.  ].,  Aluminum  Canteen,  oblong  shape,  no  seams 
or  solder  said  to  be  used,  identical  with  "MM"  except 
capacity.  Weight  of  naked  flask,  7  and  j  ounces.  Capacity, 
38  and  ^  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  dry,  cover  on,  empty,  cork 
in,  8  and  J  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight,  filled,  cover  dry, 
49  ounces  avoirdupois.  Single  cover  same  as  "MM." 

O.  • — Newark,  X".  J.,  Aluminum  Circular  Canteen  Flask.  No  cover. 
X'o  solder  said  to  be  used.  Capacity,  16  ounces.  Weight, 
3  and  J  ounces.  (See  cut  O.) 

1*.  •—  Reymond  and  Gottlob  Aluminum  Canteen.  Single  felt  cover. 
Capacity,  29  ounces.  Weight,  8  ounces.  (See  cut  P,  four 
views.) 

O.  — Lanz  Tin  Flask  Canteen.  Covered  by  Lanz  method,  £  inch 
felt,  and  openable  canvas  cover.  Capacity,  45  fluid  ounces. 
Weight,  19  ounces.  (See  cut  G,  four  views.) 

R.  —Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Aluminum  Flask.  Covered  by 
the  Lanz  method,  4-8  inch  wool  felt,  and  openable  canvas 
cover.  Capacity,  45  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  15  ounces. 

S.  — Lanz  Circular  Canteen.  Tin  Flask.  Covered  by  the  Lanz 
method,  4-8  inch  wool  felt,  and  openable  canvas  cover. 
Capacity,  39  ounces.  Weight,  19  ounces.  (See  cut  G, 
four  views.) 

T. — Lanz  Circular  Canteen.  Tin  Flask.  Covered  by  the  Lanz  method. 
4-8  inch  Amsterdam  sponge  woven  felt,  and  openable  can- 
vas cover,  three  pieces  canvas,  high  collar.  Capacity,  39 
ounces.  Weight,  19  ounces. 

—Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Aluminum  Flask.  Covered  by 
the  Lanz  method,  •$  inch  Amsterdam  sponge  woven  felt,  and 
openable  canvas  cover,  three  pieces  canvas,  high  collar. 
Capacity,  42  ounces.  Weight,  17  ounces.  (See  cut  U.) 

V-  —Regulation  Aluminum  Canteen,  Germany  Army  Pattern,  1899. 
Manufactured  by  Carl  Berg,  Eveking,  Westphalia,  Ger- 


6o 


HISTORY   OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


us* 


HISTORY    OF    TIIK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


61 


many.  Covered  with  grayish  felt  cloth,  single  thickness, 
provided  with  black  leather  loops  and  straps.  Capacity,  25 
ounces.  Weight,  7  and  }  ounces.  (See  cut  V.) 

W.  — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Naked  Aluminum  Flask. 
Weight,  9  ounces.  Capacity,  44  fluid  ounces.  Single  piece 
metal,  with  steel  rings  attached  to  an  aluminum  lug  (each 
two  pieces),  riveted  to  the  flask  by  means  of  two  rivets. 
(See  cut  W.) 

X.  — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  Naked  Aluminum,  single  piece 
flask.  Weight,  9  ounces.  Capacity,  44  fluid  ounces.  Pro- 
vided with  stirrup  shaped  loops  clamped  to  the  flask  by 
means  of  four  rivets.  (See  cut  X.) 

Type  of  Wooden  Canteen,  used  in  the  United  States  Army,  pat- 
tern of  1812,  and  during  our  second  war  with  England.  (From  a 
tracing  furnished  by  the  Quartermaster  General,  U.  S.  Army).  One 
view. 

Tracing  furnished  by  the  Quartermaster  General  U.  S.  Army, 
of  the  type  of  tin  flask  canteen  covered  with  cloth,  used  in  the  United 
States  Army,  1848-1861. 


TEST  No.  1JO. 


TEMPERATURE   OF   WATER    IN    CANTEENS. 

Hour. 

Tempera- 

Each Canteen  Being  Filled  to  its  Capacity. 

ture. 

A 

H 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

l 

10  a.  m.  .  . 

''7 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

II      "    ... 

12  m 

8 
8 

36 
32 

36 

? 

32 

44 

34 

44 
36 

52 
44 

4b 

I  p.  m  .  .  . 

2      "       ... 

8 

l2 

? 

32 

38 

34 
32 

3    "     --- 

8 

33 

32 

Leaky. 


TEST  No.   81 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

Outside 

Each  can  teen  be 

ng  filled  to  its  capacity. 

Temp.         A 

p, 

C           D           E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

9:00  a.m.    +10        52 

52 

52 

52         52 

52 

52 

52 

52 

52 

52 

10:00    "  .. 
10:30  a.  m. 

IO 
IO 

? 

38 
34 

I2 

V 

I2 

42 
36 

3<> 
36 

42 
38 

42 
42 

3£ 
36 

40 
36 

ri:oo     " 

10 

32 

36 

36 

38 

40 

32 

32 

1  1  =30     " 

12 

32 

33 

32 

37 

35 

32 

32 

12:00  m  .  .. 

12 

32 

32 

32 

34 

33 

32 

32 

12:30  p.  m. 

12 

32     ! 

32       32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

*Leaky. 


62 


HISTORY    OF    TJIF, 


.ITAKY    CANTEEN. 


TKST  NO.  .TJ. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Hour. 

Outside 
1  emp.  i 

I  '""O  p    111                           -  -  • 

+  14 

J          a 

14 

3  °°    u 

14 

4*00    "                 ...... 

14 

Quantity  of  water  (36  ozs.)  same  in  each  canteen. 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

~*if 
46 

44 
40 

38 
32 

32 

I 

56 

48 
44 
38 
36 
34 
32 

K 

56 
38 
42 

39 
36 

32 

32 

L 

56 
34 
34 
32 
32 
32 
32 

56 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

56 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

56 
48 
44 

9 

34 

32 

56 
46 

46 
44 
36 
36 

34 

TEST  No.   33. 


Hour. 


+20 
20 
2O 
20 
22 
22 
23 
23 

112 

82 
60 
48 
38 

34 

32 

112 

40 
32 

*II2 
*   90 

*  68 

*  46 
*  40 
*  34 

*  32 

112 

9« 
76 

68 
58 
50 
46 
40 

112 

86 
72 
60 
52 
46 

$ 

112 

86 
70 

58 
5o 
44 
40 

36 

112 

88 
68 
56 
48 
42 
38 
34 

112 
66 

44 

34 
32 

IO'4.C      " 

n*4C       "                              .... 

I  '4<;      " 

2*4.1;      " 

3  MS      " 

"W 

*Leaky. 

TEST  No.  34. 

Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  same  in  each  cinleen. 

A 

B 

IIO 

92 
74 
64 

56 

48 
44 
42 

C 
IIO 

60 

42 

36 

34 

34 
34 
34 

D 

E 

F 

IIO 
92 

74 
64 
56 
50 
46 
44 

G 

I  IO 
96 
84 

74 
66 
60 

56 

52 

H 

IIO 
90 

78 
70 
62 

58 

54 
50 

I 

IIO 

94 

80 
70 
62 
56 

41 

K 

L 

IIO 

78 
58 
50 
44 
40 

38 
36 

8:4  50.    ill      ..     ... 

+32 
32 
32 

33 
34 
34 

34 
34 

IIO 

94 

80 
68 
60 

54 
5° 

48 

10:4.1;      " 

11:41;      " 

12:41;  p.  m  .  . 

^     " 

T?C             " 

j  43 

TEST  No.  35. 

• 

Hour. 
8:40  a.  m 

Outside 
Temp  . 

+32 

33 

36 

40 
41 

4' 
40 

38 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  (36  ozs.)  same  in  each  canteen. 

A 

1) 

116 

90 
76 
64 
58 
52 
50 
48 
44 

c 

116 
66, 

42 
40 

40 
.38 

D 

E 

F 

116 

98 
82 

H 
58 
54 

G 
116 

100 

88 

79 

72 
66 
62 

58 
54 

H 

116 

94 
84 
74 
68 
62 
58 
54 
52 

I 

116 

98 
86 

11 

62 
56 
52 
50 

K 

L 

116 
96 

82 
72 
64 
59 
56 
52 
49 

116 

82 
66 
54 
48 
46 
44 
42 
42 

10:40     "     

1  1  :4O     " 

I  2  140  p    111 

I  '4.O      " 

2  :4O     " 

•5  MO        " 

4  '4O      " 

HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.  36. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

*2!~ 
26 

28 
30 

32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  (^6  ozs.)  same  in  each  canteen. 

A 

B 

116 
86 
70 
60 

11 

40 

4? 
36 

116 
56 
40 

34 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

D 

E 

F 

G 

116 
96 

84 
74 
64 
60 

54 
50 
48 

H 

116 
92 
80 
70 
62 
56 

4^ 
46 

I 

116 

92 
80 
70 
62 
54 

5° 
46 

44 

K 

116 
90 
76 
68 
68 

% 

44 
42 

L 

116 

76 

58 
46 

42 
39 

% 
36 

34 

8  *  30  a.    ni       

116 

72 
54 
44 
38 
36 
35 
34 
32 

116 

94 
80 
68 
60 

% 

44 
42 

9.30     « 

lO'^O       " 

1  1  :  T.O     " 

12  "2O  P     111 

I  "JO      " 

i  .ju 

^.ju 
"I  •  1O      " 

4'T.O      " 

TEST  No.  37. 

Hour. 

Outside 
Temp  . 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens  and  Flasks. 

Each  Canteen  and  Flask  filled  to  its  capacity. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

8-  -i  -  n     ni 

+  22 
24 
28 
36 
38 
38 
40 
40 
38 

116 
88 
66 
56 

5» 

48 

44 
44 
42 

116 
94 
76 
66 
58 
52 
50 
48 
42 

116 
58 
40 
36 

38 

II 

38 

38 
38 

116 
56 

3f 
36 

38 
38 
40 
40 
40 

116 
60 
40 

38 
38 
38 
40 
40 
40 

116 

*96 

84 

11 
60 
58 
54 

52 

116 

94 
82 
72 
66 
62 
56 
54 
52 

116 
103 

92 
86 
78 
74 

11 
64 

116 

99 
84 

74 
66 
62 
58 
56 
52 

116 

91 

78 
70 
62 
5^ 
56 
52 
50 

116 
86 
68 

58 

^8 
46 
44 
42 

Q-3C      " 

JO-7C       "                                   ... 

T  I  •  7C         " 

1  2  •  7  c  p  in                ..... 

I  "i^       " 

2:7;    " 

3"2C       "                                 ... 

A.-1Z       " 

H-'JJ                 

*Leakv. 

TEST  No.  38. 

Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens  and  Flasks. 

Each  Canteen  and  Flask  filled  to  its  capacity. 

A 

B 

c 

D 
IOO 

55 

3? 
% 

% 
36 

38 
38 
38 

E 

F 
IOO 

*88 
76 
66 
62 
54 
52 
50 
48 

G 

IOO 

86 
76 
66 
62 
56 
54 
50 
48 

H 

IOO 
96 

86 
82 

74 
70 
66 
62 
60 

I 

IOO 

88 
76 
66 
62 

56 

8 

46 

K 
IOO 

86 
72 
62 
58 
54 
5o 
48 
46 

L 
IOO 

78 
62 
54 
48 
44 
42 
42 
40 

o  •  ?  c  a    m 

+  32 
32 

32 
I 

II 

II 

IOO 
78 
64 
52 
48 

44 
42 
42 
40 

IOO 

88 
68 
60 

54 

52 
46 

44 

42 

IOO 

52 
40 

36 
36 
36 
38 
38 
38 

IOO 
52 
40 

P 

36 

38 
38 
33 

Q:?C     " 

lo:^     "          

1  1  :  T,  Z     " 

j  2  :  7  c  p   ITI 

I  :TC     "                 

2  :  T  c     " 

7.->C        « 

4.W     " 

*  Leaky. 

TEST  No.  39. 

Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

+  38~ 
38 
40 
40 
42 
42 
40 
40 
40 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens  and  Flasks. 

Each  Canteen  and  Flask  having  36  ozs.  hot  water. 

A 

B 

c 

94 
60 

48 
44 
42 
42 
42 
42 
40 

D 

E 

F 

*94 
86 
78 
70 
64 
60 
56 
54 
53 

G 

94 

88 
78 

7<> 
62 
60 
58 
56 
54 

H 

94 

82 

74 
68 
66 
60 
56 
52 
52 

i 

94 
84 
76 
68 
64 
58 
54 
52 
50 

K 

94 
84 

11 
60 

58 
54 
52 
50 

L 

8  :  1  S  n    ni 

94 

5 

56 

11 
46 

44 
44 

94 
78 
68 
60 
54 

$ 

48 
46 

94 
72 
60 
52 

5° 
46 

44 
44 
42 

0:11;     " 

10:11;     " 

1  1:11;     " 

I2'.I5  p.   1Y1  ...... 

l:i^     " 

2  :  1  S      "      . 

7  :  1  <     " 

4:1  c;     " 

*Leaky. 

HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN, 
TEST  No.  40. 


Hour 
8  :45  a.  m  

Outside 
Temp. 

+  12 
12 

14 
14 
H 
14 
H 
13 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  (36  ozs.)  same  in  each  canteen. 

A 

~96~ 
68 
48 
38 
32 
32 
32 
32 

B 
96 

74 
56 

46 
32 
32 
32 
32 

c 

96 

42 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

D 

E 

F 

™~ 

76 

66 

52 
44 
38 
32 
32 

G 

96 
80 
66 

58 
50 
44 
38 
34 

H 

~96~ 

78 
64 

54 
48 

42 
36 

32 

I 

K 

~96~ 
76 
62 

52 
44 
40 

34 
32 

L 

96 
62 
44 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

64 
54 
46 
40 
36 
32 

0:4.^     "    . 

10:4.5;     " 

ii:45     "    - 

12:4.^  p.  m 

1  :4.^      u 

2:4^  "  . 

^:4^      "    . 

*Leaky. 


TEST  No.  41. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  (36  ozs  )  same  in  each  canteen. 

A    j    B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H    I     I 

K 

98 
So 
66 
54 
48 
44 
40 

38 
36 

l. 

8:30  a.  in 

+  10 
12 
14 

18 

20 
26 
26 
•28 
26 

98 

68 
52 
40 

34 
32 
32 
32 
32 

98 

74 

58 
46 

42 
38 
36 
34 

32 

98 

46 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

• 

98 
*82 
64 

% 

42 

4° 
36 
36 

98 

84 
70 
62 
54 
48 
44 
42 
42 

98 
84 

68 
60 

$ 

44 
42 
40 

98 
78 
66 
56 
48 
42 
40 

38 
36 

98 
66 
46 
36 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

9:30     "    . 

10:^0    " 

11:30    "    

1  2  .'30  p.  m  

1:30     "    . 

2:10     " 

3:30     "    . 

4:^0    " 

*Leaky. 


TEST  No.  42. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

Out- 
side 

Quantity  of  water  36  ozs.,  except  in  flasks  "  N"  and"  O,"  in  the  main  filled  to  their 

Tern. 

capacity. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

N 

0 

8:15  a.  m. 
9:15     « 

+  24 
24 

li 

94 

74 

94 

48 

*9f 
78 

94 

82 

94 
76 

94 

78 

94 
76 

94 
64 

94 
44 

94 

44 

94 
36 

io:[5     ' 

22 

52 

60 

34 

66 

70 

66 

66 

68 

48 

32 

32 

32 

11:15     " 

22 

40 

50 

32 

56 

62 

56 

56 

58 

40 

32 

32 

32 

12:15  p.  m. 

22 

36 

42 

32 

48 

54 

50 

So 

50 

34 

32 

32 

32 

1:15     " 

22 

32 

40 

32 

42 

50 

44 

44 

44 

32 

32 

32 

t 

2:15     " 

22 

32 

32 

32 

38 

44 

40 

40 

40 

32 

32 

32 

3^5     ' 

22 

32 

32 

32 

34 

42 

38 

56 

36 

32 

32 

32 

4:15     " 

26 

32 

32 

32 

32 

36 

38 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

f  Leaky,     t  Frozen. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  43. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

Out      Quantity  in  each  (36  ozs  )  the  same,  except  in  Flasks  "N, 
side:                                                                  filled  to  their  capacity. 

"  "O"  and  "P,"  which  were 

L-       A 

H         C    i    D    j     E 

1(1 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L        M 

N 

O 

P 

a,  in. 

8:I5 

+  4 

94 

94     94 

+94 

94 

94 

94 

94 

94     94 

94 

94 

94 

9:I5 

6 

64 

70     42 

76 

76 

72 

76 

74 

60 

42 

42 

32 

62 

10:15 

8 

46 

52      32 

60 

64 

62 

62 

60 

42 

32 

32 

32 

44 

11:15 

8 

34 

42      32 

48 

54 

50 

50 

50 

32 

32 

32 

34 

p.  m. 

12:15 

8 

32 

34      32 

40 

48 

44 

44 

42 

32 

32  1  32 

32 

1:15 

8 

32 

32      32 

32 

40 

36 

36 

3<> 

32 

32 

32 

2:15 

10 

32 

32  !  32 

32 

34 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

3»>5 

12 

32 

32      32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

4:15 

12     32 

32      3? 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

'I.eakv.     t  Frozen. 


TEST  No.  44. 


Hour. 

Out 
side 
T. 

Temperature  of  Water  m  Canteens. 

Cond 

tions  same  as  in  Test  No  43.  except  Flasks  "D",  "N".  "O"and  "P",  which  werefilled. 

A 

I!         C         D         E 

F 

<; 

H 

I     i    K 

L 

I\l 

N 

o 

p 

a.  m. 

8:15 

+14 

1  06 

1  06 

1  06    1  06    1  06 

1  06 

106 

106 

106 

106 

106 

106 

106 

106 

106 

9:I5 

i8|  72 

78 

50 

50     54 

t8o 

86 

84 

86 

84 

68 

48 

46 

38 

66 

10:25 

22 

S4 

62 

34 

32 

66 

72 

72 

72 

70 

,SO 

34 

32 

32 

So 

11:15 

26 

44 

52 

32 

32      32 

56 

64 

62 

62 

62 

42 

32 

32 

32 

42 

p.  m. 

12:15 

30 

40 

36       32 

32      32 

50 

58 

56 

56 

54 

38 

32 

32 

32 

38 

i:i5 

32 

36 

42 

32 

32     32 

46 

52 

52 

52 

50 

36 

32 

32 

33 

30 

2:15 

34 

36 

40 

32 

32      32 

42 

So 

48 

48 

46 

36 

32 

32 

32 

36 

3:I5 

34 

36 

38 

32 

32      34 

40 

48 

48 

48 

46 

36 

33 

32 

32 

36 

4:  IS 

.U 

36 

3« 

32      34      34 

3"5 

46      44      44 

42 

30 

33 

33     32 

3<> 

t Frozen. 


TEST  No.  45. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Out 
Hour,  side 

Conditions  same  as  in  Test  No.  44. 

T. 

A    B    C    D    E    F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M  . 

N  I  0 

p 



|__ 

1  



a.  in. 

8:25 

-10 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO  IOO  IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

IOO 

9:25 

8 

68 

72 

36  40  32 

t74 

80 

80 

78 

56 

36 

36 

32 

58 

10.25 

6 

42 

52 

32  32   j  56 

66 

64 

62 

36 

32 

32 

* 

40 

11:25 

5 

32 

38 

32  '  *    42 

54 

52 

48 

32 

32 

* 

32 

p.  m. 

' 

12:25 

4 

32 

32 

* 

32 

44 

42 

38 

32 

32 

32 

1:25 

4 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

2:25 

2 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

2 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

4:25 

2 

32 

32 

I 

32 

32 

32 

32 

"'Leaky.     fFrozen. 


GC) 


HISTORY    OF    T1IK    MILITARY    CAXTEEX. 


Httfti.  9  ox.  Capacity  <*+  /%/i^  ox. 
to  the  f/ask  fy  weans  of  /our>r/*ets. 


p/e  />t'ece  f/ask,. 
strrru/9  shaped  7*9jo3  c4u»/*£ 
test  ly  the  £a»x. 


HISTORY    OF    TIIK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.  4(5. 


Out- 

Hour. 

side 

Temp 

8*  10  a    m.  ..... 

-ID 

Q'lO      " 

IO 

10:10     "    

8 

II'IO      "            .... 

6 

I2:IO  p.  m  

4 

2:10     "      

0 

3;l°     "      

-    2 

4:  10 

2 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteen. 


(Quantity  (4,  ozs  )  being  the  smie,  except  in  '" 
"O"  and  "I',"  which  were 


A."  "D, 
filled. 


AJ  n 

C 

l) 

E   F 

G   H 

I 

K 

IO2 

102  IO2 

1  02 

IO2  102 

IO2!IO2 

IO2 

1  02 

68 

76 

3« 

38 

32  7-S 

8?  80 

76 

44 

58 

32 

32  t  60 

66 

66 

6«. 

62 

32 

42 

32  t 

46  52  52 

52 

46 

31 

32 

t 

34  4-J  44 

42 

36 

32;  3' 

32 

34,  38 

36 

32 

t   t 

i  t   52 

32  32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

K   I, 

M 

N   O 

p 

Q 

2  IO2 

IO2 

IO2  IO2 

102 

I  O2 

o  76 

3s 

34]  32 

32 

78 

"  62 

32 

66 

2  46 

t 

f  f 

32 

2  36 

32 

42 

6  32 

36 

2  32 

t 

32 

2  t 

32 

2 

i 

32 

t  Frozen.     JBurstcd. 


During  Test  No.  46  the  Dubuque  enameled  canteen  froze  after  two  hours  exposure 
and  burst  open  at  the  seams  along  the  edges,  during  the  next  hour.  It  had  forty-five 
(45)  fluid  ounces  of  water,  temperature  102  deg.,  F.,  placed  in  it  at  8:10  a.  m.  The 
variations  of  air  temperature  were,  (observations  made  hourly),  as  follows:  -10  deg.  ; 
-8  deg.  ;  -6  deg.  The  temperature  of  the  contents  of  the  canteen  fell  from  102  deg.  to 
38  deg.  after  onehour'sexposure;at  theexpiration  of  thesecond  hour  the  fluid  dropped 
to  32  deg.  During  this  test,  the  enamel  splintered  off  around  the  edges;  liule  blisters 
of  enamel,  like  small  volcanoes,  bubbled  up,  and  patches  of  the  enamel  blew  off,  expos- 
ing the  metallic  base.  The  cause  was  simple.  The  Dubuque  Stamping  and  Enamel 
Co.  canteen  is  a  combination  of  mineral  and  metal;  the  metal  contracted;  result,  disin- 
tegration. (See  illustration  -  ). 

TEST  No.  47. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Hour. 

si'dl".     ^Uamlt> 

(45  fluid  ozs.)  being  the  same  in  each,  except  in  "D,"  " 
"N"  and  "O,"  which  were  filled. 

-V 

r. 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

Siit;  a.  m  

+14      80 

80 

*8o 

80 

80 

80 

80 

80 

80 

So 

80 

80 

go 

So 

9:I5     "     

16 

60 

63 

32 

38 

38 

68 

74 

68 

74 

70 

64 

34 

32 

32 

10:15     "     

20 

48 

S8 

32 

32 

56 

64 

60 

66 

62 

52)  32 

32 

32 

11:15     "     

24 

42 

48|  32 

32 

32    48 

38 

42 

58 

54 

42 

32 

32 

32 

1  2  :  1  5  p.  m  

I  :  I  H     "    - 

26 

38 

-\A 

46 

4.2 

32 

•23 

r 

32 

32 

42 
40 

48 
44 

18 

44 

4°   3-' 

36     12 

32 

32 

T.?, 

2:15     "    

28 

32 

38 

32 

32 

46 

42 

44 

42 

34 

32 

32 

32 

28 

32 

36 

32 

32 

36 

42    3s   42 

40 

32 

32 

32 

32 

4^5     "    

28 

32    34 

32 

32 

34 

40!  381  40 

38 

32!  32 

32 

32 

*Leaky.     t  Frozen. 

TEST  No.  48. 


Hour. 

Out- 

•side 
Temp 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Quantity  of  water  (45  fli.id  ozs  ),  same  in  each  canteen,  except  in  "A,"  "D"' 
"F,""G,"  -N,"  "O"  and  "P,"  which  were  filled. 

A 

B 

"to 
66 
52 
42 
36 
32 
32 
32 
32 

tSo 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

f 

D 

80 
38 

f 

E 

F 

G 

H 

i  |K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

80 
70 
60 

% 

38 
38 
34 
32 

<S:  10  a.  in  
9:10     "      
10:10     "      
II:IO     "      
12:10  p.  m 

+14 
14 

14 
14 

H 
16 
16 

18 
18 

80 
60 
46 
36 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

80 
44 
32 

f 

80 

* 

68 
56 
48 
42 

!• 

80 
70 
60 

52 

3 
Ji 

32 

80 
68 
58 
50 
44 
40 
36 
34 
32 

80 
72 
62 
52 
46 

4° 
38 
31 
32 

So 
70 
58 
50 
4-' 
38 
24 
32 
32 

80 
•?6 
42 

34 
32 
32 
32 
3* 
32 

to 

36 
32 
32 
32 

33 
32 

r 

So 

* 

32 

32 

332 

32 

r 

80 

* 

32 

f 

80 

46 
34 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

l  :  I  o    " 

2:10    "     

7:IO    " 

4:10    "     

( Leaky,     f  Frozen. 


68 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  40. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

8:OO  a.  ni  
9:00     "      
10:00     "      
1  1  :oo     "     

1  2  -oo  ni. 

+  8 
8 

IO 
12 
14. 

16 

2  :oo    "    .  .  

16 
18 

4:00    "     . 

1  8 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions  same  as  in  Test  No.  48.  Snow  fell  during  about  two  hours  of 
the  time  occupied  in  making  the  test. 

A 

13 

c 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

130 

86 

S6 

100 

Q6 

104 

98 

80 

48 

* 

* 

* 

102 

62 

72 

s° 

32 

60 

104 

84 

82 

86 

80 

S6 

32 

32 

32 

S° 

84 

46 

58 

32 

32 

34 

84 

68 

68 

72 

66 

40 

32 

32 

32 

32 

72 

36 
32 

48 
40 

32 

32 

r 

32 
32 

68 
58 

60 
So 

58 
S4 

62 

54 

56 
So 

34 
32 

32 
32 

r 

r 

32 
32 

64 

S6 

32 

36 

32 

32 

50 

46 

46 

46 

42 

32 

32 

32 

48 

32 

32 

32 

32 

42 

40 

40 

42 

38 

32 

t 

44 

32 

32 

32; 

32 

38    36 

36 

38 

26 

32 

40 

'Leaky,     t  Frozen. 


TEST  No.  50. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

— 

Every  canteen  and  flask  filled  to  its  capacity. 

A 

B 

C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K  1  L 

M 

N 

O 

P- 

o 

8  :oo  a.  m  

Q  -00      " 

+  4 
6 
8 

12 

16 
18 

22 
22 
24 

5° 

40 
32 
32 
32 
32 

F 

50 
42 

34 
32 
32 
32 

J2 

50 

*32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

r 

*° 

+ 
•*• 

§ 

50 
*32 
32 

? 

50 

*42 

36 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

5° 

42 

38 
32 

32 
32 
32 

32 

32 

50 

48 

44 
40 

36 
32 
32 
32 
32 

50 
42 
40 

34 
32 
32 
32 

32 
.32 

50 

42 

34 
32 
32 

32 

r 

50 

38 
32 
32 
32 

32 
32 
32 

50 
32 
32 

r 

*5° 

*32 

32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

50 

T2 

50 

34 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

5o 
42 
38 
34 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

icity 

lO'OO      " 

1  1  :OO     "      

1  2  'OO  111  . 

I  :oo  p.  m      

2  :OO     " 

3:00    "     - 

4:00  "   

*Leaky      t  frozen.     JKursted.     §At  start 
was  30  o^s. 

ng  had  a 

capacity  of  25  ozs.  ;  at  the  finish  its  cap 

TEST  No.  51. 


Hour. 

Out. 
side 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Every  canteen  and  flask  being  filled  to  its  capacity. 

Temp  . 

A 

B       C 

y 

E 

F 

G 

H 

JJJL 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

KjS        T 

a.m. 

8:00 

+16 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56  56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56    59 

9:00 

14 

36 

40 

32  ; 

32 

40 

42 

50 

44 

42 

36 

32 

32 

32 

42 

42 

42   40 

1  0:00 
11:00 

10 
IO 

32 
32 

32 

32 

32 

r 

34 

32 

38 
32 

48 

44 

38 
32 

38 
32 

32 

f 

32 
32 

.? 

36 

34 

vO  "' 
CO  CO 

36   34 

34    32 

12111. 

10 

t 

32 

32 

*32 

32 

36 

32 

32 

T 

32 

32 

32 

32    32 

p.  m. 

1:00 
2:00 

8 

8 

f 

I2 

32 
32 

32 

32 

34 
32 

32 

32 

32 
32 

t 

* 

32 
32 

r 

32    32 
32    3^ 

3:00 

IO 

32 

32 

32 

32 

t 

t 

-I-      t 

4:00 

32'  t 

32 

t 

! 

"Leaky,     t  frozen.     JHursted. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAXTEliX 
TEST  No.  52. 


69 


Out- 

Temperature of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

side 

Every  canteen  and  flask  filled  to  its  capacity. 

A 

B 

C    i   D        E 

F 

0|H 

i 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

R       S 

T 

a  .111  . 

1 

8:OO;       +   2 
9:00!            2 

I78I78 

*46  1  08 

1781    J    1178178 

*46!       i  60*98 

178 
138 

178 
138 

178 
124 

I78 
130 

I78 
1  06 

* 
* 

+ 

•*• 

I78 

*4o 

178 
1.34 

178,178 
134736 

I78 

I  O:00 

4 

32   74 

32     !  32  80 

no  no 

94 

102 

76 

32 

1  08 

io8|iio 

IO2 

I  I  :00            8 

32   56 

32 

62 

90 

98 

78 

80 

54 

t 

90 

88|  90 

86 

I  2  111.  1           IO 

32  42 

32          t 

48 

76 

86 

62 

66 

40 

76 

74J  76 

70 

]).  111. 

1:00          12 

.32 

36 

t 

38 

66 

74 

52 

S4 

34 

64 

62j   64 

60 

2:00 

12 

32 

32 

32 

56 

66 

44 

44 

32 

56 

54  S6 

50 

3:00 

H 

32   32 

32 

46 

58 

38 

38 

32 

48 

46  48 

44 

4:00 

H 

32   32 

32 

38 

54 

34 

34 

32 

42 

40|  42 

40 

*  Leaky.     fFrozen.     JHursted. 

TEST  No.  51*. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions  same  as  in  Test  No.  52. 

A 

B       C 

D 

E   |    F 

G 

H 

l_ 

K 

L 

M 

N 

0 

P 

Q 

R 

s  |T 

a   m  . 

I 

S:oo 

+18 

1  68 

168  168 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

168  168 

1  68 

I68l68 

168 

1  68 

1  68 

I68l68l68 

9:00 

20 

1  08 

126    : 

+ 
+ 

86 

112 

n8 

140 

138 

138 

124 

-h         +• 

•*•   !   •+• 

+ 
4> 

+• 

140 

140138  140 

10:00 

22 

78 

1  06 

56 

00 

1  20 

126 

118 

118 

IOO 

122 

124  118 

116 

1  1  :OO 

24 

58 

86 

38 

72 

102 

112 

IO2 

98 

80 

106 

1041102 

98 

12  111. 

24 

48 

70 

34 

60 

00 

100 

88    86 

68 

94 

92 

90, 

86 

p.  in. 

1:00 

28 

42 

62 

32 

52 

78 

92 

78i  76 

S8 

84 

80 

78 

74 

2:OO 

26 

36 

52 

32 

44 

68 

84 

68    64 

So 

74 

72 

70 

66 

;:oo 

24 

34 

46 

32 

40 

62 

76 

66 

58 

44 

66 

64 

62 

60 

4:00 

24 

32 

44 

32 

38 

56 

72 

56 

52 

42 

62 

60 

58 

54 

*Leaky.     t  Frozen.     JHursted. 


TEST  No.  54. 


l'emperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Out- 
>ur       side 
Temp. 

Same  canteens,  conditions,  etc.,  as  in  Test  No.  53,  except  that  a  snow  storm 
prevailed  most  of  the  time  covered  by  the  test. 

A 

B 

c 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

1 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P       Q 

R        S 

T 

in. 

:00     +22 
:OOJ      24 

170 

116 

170 
132 

I70 

106 

I/O 
146 

170 
I4O 

170 
I  SO 

170 

138 

170 

136 

170 

128 

I70I70I70 
146  144  146 

170 
I42 

:OO|     26  . 

82 

104 

70 

114 

1  2O 

132 

116 

II4 

104 

124 

126  122 

118 

:oo      26 
•>•»     i 

66 

88 

52 

94 

IO2 

1  2O 

1  02 

98 

88 

I  10 

no'io6 

104 

n.    | 
:ooi     28 

52 

74 

42 

78 

90 

1  10 

SS    86 

72 

98 

96 

94 

90 

111. 

:oo      30 

46 

66 

38 

68 

80  IO2 

80 

78 

64 

88 

86 

84 

80 

:oo      30 

40 

58 

36 

58 

72 

92 

70 

68 

56 

80 

78 

74 

70 

:oo      30 
:oo|     28 

38 
36 

52 
48 

32 
32 

50 

44 

64 
60 

84 

So 

64 
58 

62 
56 

5° 
46 

72 

!  66 

70    66 

64|  60 

64 
58 

HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN, 


fay/told  $ 

r*f/e  fe/t  coi/er,    Capacity  £f  ox.  f/t*rd 
measure,  WerySrt  9  ox 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.  55. 


Out- 

Temperature of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

side 

Each  canteen  filled. 

A 

B    |    C 

D 

E 

K 

G 

H 

1 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

R 

S    1   T 

a.m. 

8.00 
9.00 
10.00 

tl2 

8 
8 

r 

52   52 
38 
32 

r 

52 

*42 

36 

52 
42 

36 

52 

42 
36 

42 

34 

38 
32 

52 
42 
36 

52 
42 
36 

52 
42 
36 

52 
42 

34 

II.  OO 

8 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

ID. 

12.  OO 

10 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

p.  m. 

1.  00 

14 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

' 

32 

32 

32 

32 

2.OO 

16 

32 

32 

32 

32 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

3.00 

4.00 

18 

22 

+ 

32 

32 
32 

32 
t 

V 

3t 

32 
32 

r 

32 

32 

fLeaky.     f.Krozen.     JBursted. 


TEST  No.  5G. 


Out 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

side 

Each  canteen  filled. 

Temp. 

A 

H 

c 

D 

EIF 

G 

H 

1 

K 

L 

M   I    N 

O 

P 

g  |  R 

s 

T 

a.m. 

7  So 

*24 

50 

50 

50     50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

SO 

So 

So 

8.50 

26 

40 

42 

36 

*46 

46 

46 

46 

42 

46 

46 

46 

44 

Q-.So 

26 

34 

40 

32 

42 

44 

42 

42 

38 

42 

44 

42 

42 

10.50 

30 

34 

36 

32 

40 

42 

40 

40 

36 

40 

42 

42 

40 

11.50 

32 

34 

34 

32 

38 

40 

38 

40 

34 

40 

40 

40 

38 

p.  m. 

12.50 

34 

34 

34 

32 

38 

40 

38 

40 

34 

38 

40 

40 

38 

1.50 

36 

34 

34 

34 

38 

40 

36 

38 

34 

38 

40 

40 

38 

2:50 

38 

36 

34 

36 

36 

3« 

36 

38 

36 

38 

38 

38 

38 

3-50 

3£ 

36 

3i 

36] 

38 

38 

38 

38 

36 

J 

38 

38 

38 

38 

'Leaky. 


TEST  No.  57. 


Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

It  rained  during  part  of  the  time.     All  canteens  filled. 

A    j    B    |    C 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

-,2 

S2 

S2 

S2 

S2 

S2 

52 

S2 

S2 

52 

S2 

S2 

34 

46 

44 

40 

50 

52 

46 

46 

48 

46 

46 

34 

40 

42 

36 

42 

46 

50 

42 

4* 

46 

44 

44 

40     40 

36 

42 

44 

46 

40 

44 

44 

44 

42 

38 

40 

38 

38 

42 

44 

46 

40 

42 

44 

42 

42 

42 

40 

40 

40 

42 

44 

46 

40 

42 

44 

42 

42 

42 

42 

40 

40 

42 

44 

44 

42 

42 

44 

42,  42 

40 

40 

40 

40 

42 

42 

44 

42 

42 

44 

42 

42 

40 

40 

,38 

40 

42 

42 

42 

40 

42 

42 

42 

42 

"Leaky. 


HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.  58. 


Hour 

OiU- 
side 
Tern. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Every  canteen  was  filled  to  its  capacity. 

A 

K 

c 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

JN 

O 

P 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

a.m. 

7.45 

+  12 

54 

S4 

54 

*54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

MS 

!>.4o 

12 
14 

34 
32 

38 

>2 

f 

42 

38 

44 
38 

46 
40 

3<> 

32 

42   42 
36    36 

42 
36 

42 
36 

42 
38 

10.4;, 

»4 

32|  32 

32 

32 

34 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

34 

II.  4-. 

16 

32    32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

p.  m. 

12.45 

r6 

V 

^2 

32 

32 

32 

t 

32    32 

32 

32 

32 

1.45 

16 

32 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

2.4!) 

18 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32    32 

3.45 

18 

32 

32 

t 

t     32 

32 

32,  32 

*Leaky.     fFrozen. 


TEST  No.  59. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Hour 

\j  ui- 

side 
Tern. 

All  conditions  identical  with  Test  No.  58. 

A 

B 

c 

D 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

L 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

u 

a.m. 

1 

7.50 

-4 

52 

52| 

52 

52 

52 

52 

52 

S2 

52 

S2 

52 

52 

8.50 
9.50 

4 

4 

r 

r 

r 

*3§ 
32 

38 
32 

42 
32 

32 

32 

38 
32 

36 

32 

36 
32 

36     36 

32     32 

10.50 

2 

32 

32 

32 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

11.50 

O 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

p.m. 

12.50 

0 

t 

32 

32 

32 

32 

1.50 

+2 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32    32 

2.50 

2 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32;  32 

3.50 

4 

j 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32;  32 

"Leaky.     fFrozen.     {Bursted. 


TEST  No.   <>0. 


Out- 

Temperature of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

side 

All  the  canteens  were  filled.   Snow  fell  during  a  portion  of  the  time  covered  by  test  . 

A 

B 

c 

1) 

E 

F 

G 

H 

I 

K 

I: 

M 

N 

O 

P 

Q   |   R 

s 

T 

u 

S.ooa.m. 

+   2 

170 

170 

170  170 

170 

170 

170  170 

170 

170 

170 

9.00   " 

2 

108 

104 

138  136 

136 

128 

138 

142 

138 

136 

142 

10.00    " 

10 

70 

64 

108  112 

114 

94 

118 

118 

114 

116 

II.OO    " 

H 

52 

42 

86 

96 

94 

74 

IOO 

IOO 

94 

IOO 

12.00111. 

18 

40 

32 

72 

82 

80 

60 

86 

86 

84 

80 

86 

i.oop.  m. 

20 

34 

32 

60 

70 

70 

50 

74 

74 

76 

70 

74 

2.OO    " 

22 

32 

32 

48 

60 

60 

42 

64 

64 

62 

60 

64 

3.00  " 

22 

32 

32 

42 

54 

52 

36 

$6 

56 

56 

52 

56 

4.00  " 

20 

32 

32 

38   46 

46 

32 

50 

50 

5°   46 

50 

Memorandum  made  of  the  fact  that  Canteen  "L"  held  60  fluid  ozs.  when  capacity 
was  measured  prior  to  Test  No.  37.  Owing  to  dilation  due  to  freezing,  its  capacity 
was  64  fluid  ozs.  when  Test  No.  60  was  made. 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY   CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  61. 


73 


Out- 

Temperature of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

side 

All  the  canteens  were  filled 

A 

B    C 

I 

D 

E 

F 

G 

M 

i 

K 

L 

M 

N 

0 

P 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

7.5011.111. 
8.50    " 

0 

+   2 

172 
90 

172 

66 

172 
136 

172 
I30 

172 
132 

172 
112 

172 

138 

I72 
I36 

172 

172 

H4 

172 

n6 

9.50    " 

4 

52 

32 

I  O2 

1  08 

104! 

78 

112 

106  108 

106 

no 

10.50    " 

8 

34 

32 

80 

86 

84 

56 

92 

86 

86 

86 

88 

11.50    " 

12 

32 

32 

60 

70 

66 

76 

70 

72 

68 

70 

12.  5op.  in. 

H 

32 

32 

48 

60 

56 

34 

64 

58 

62 

58 

60 

1.50      " 

18 

32 

t 

38 

50 

48 

32 

54 

50 

C2 

So 

SO 

2.50 

20 

32 

32 

44 

40 

32 

46 

42 

44 

42 

44 

3-50      « 

20 

32 

32 

38 

361 

32 

42 

38 

40 

38 

38 

t  Frozen. 


TEST  No.  62. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  the  canteens  were  filled. 

A 

15 

c 

I) 

E 

F 

G 

u 

i 

K 

L 

M 

N 

0 

P 

Q 

R 

s 

•i   |  u 

8.ooa.m. 

+20 

168 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

168 

1  68 

1  68 

1  68 

i68'i68 

9.00  " 

2O 

1  08 

90 

136 

138 

136 

124 

140 

138 

140 

140  138 

o.oo  " 

2O 

74 

54 

1  08 

116 

112 

94 

118 

118 

118 

114  118 

I.OO    " 

20 

52 

36 

82 

96 

94 

72 

106 

98 

98 

96 

98 

2.OO111. 

2O 

40 

32 

64 

80 

80 

86 

84 

82 

80 

84 

I.  oop.m. 

20 

32 

32 

So 

68 

68 

48 

76 

72 

70 

70 

74 

2.OO    " 

22 

32 

32 

42 

60 

S8 

40 

66 

62 

62 

60 

64 

3.00  " 

4.00  " 

22 
2O 

a 

32 
32 

32 
32 

4£ 
46 

46 

34 

32 

56 
50 

54 

48 

8 

Is 

& 

TEST  No. 


Hour. 

Out 

ide 

Temperature.of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  the  canteens  were  filled. 

T. 

A 

B    Cl     E 

G 

H 

I 

L 

o 

R    |     S 

T 

U 

V 

w 

X 

1 

* 

a.  in. 

8:00    +14 

184 

184 

I84 

184 

184 

I84 

184 

I84 

184 

9:00       16 

100 

90 

144 

144 

130 

150 

144 

144 

140 

148 

10.00      26 

7° 

54 

122 

122 

100 

126 

122 

122 

120 

124 

1  1  :oo       28 

54 

40 

102 

I  O2 

80 

1  06 

106 

IO4 

IOO 

106 

12111. 

3° 

44 

34 

88 

86     66 

94 

88 

88 

86 

92 

1>.  Ill 

i 

1  :00        32 

40 

32 

78  :             /6 

56 

82 

80 

80 

76 

82 

2:OO 

3/1 

38 

32 

68              68 

SO        72 

70 

60 

68 

72 

3:CO 
4:00 

36 

16 

$ 

58 
58  , 

56     46 
56     44 

66 

62 

64 
60 

64 
60 

62 
56 

66 
60 

74 


Out 

Hour,    side 


HISTORY    OK    TIIK    MILITARY    C'AXTKKX, 
TEST  No.   (54. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Each  canteen  was  filled. 


1. 

A 

B 

C 

E 

G 

H 

I 

L 

Q 

R|  S 

T 

U   V 

W 

X 

a.  in. 

7-45  +26 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

8-45 

30 

40 

40 

44 

44 

44 

44 

46 

44 

44 

46 

9  45 

34 

36 

42 

42 

40 

42 

42 

42 

42 

44 

10.  "5 

38 

38 

38 

42 

42 

40 

42 

42 

42 

42 

42 

"•45 

38 

42 

40 

40 

42 

42 

42 

42 

42 

p.  m. 

12-45 

36 

36 

33 

40 

40 

38 

40 

40 

40 

40 

42 

i-45 

34 

36 

36 

40 

38 

38 

40 

40 

40 

40 

40 

2-45 

34 

34 

34 

38 

36 

40 

38 

38 

38 

38 

345 

3? 

32 

34 

36 

3  6 

34 

38 

36 

38 

36 

TEST  No.   65. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteen. 

Each  canteen  was  full. 

A 

B 

(J 

E 

G 

H 

I  !  L 

Q 

R 

S  |  T   U 

V 

W 

X 

8.15  a.  m  

QIC  " 

+38 

38 
40 
40 
42 
42 
42 
40 
38 

162 

IO2 

/6 
62 

56 

5° 

48 

44 
42 

162 

82 

56 
46 

44 
44 
44 
42 
40 

162 

136 
II4 

100 

90 
80 
70 

66 

60 

162 
138 
124 
112 
102 

94 
88 
84 
J76 

162 
132 
114 

100 

88 
76 
70 
64 
60 

162 
118 

92 
78 
68 
60 
54 

52 

46 

162 
138 
118 
104 
92 
82 
76 
68 
62 

162 

134 
112 

g 

78 
70 
64 
60 

162 

134 
114 
100 

90 
80 
72 

66 
60 

162 
132 

112 

98 

86 
76 
70 

£4 

60 

162 
132 

112 
98 

88 
78 
72 

A4 
60 

162 

IOO 

74 
64 
56 
52 

52 
46 

42 

162 
76 

52 

44 
44 
44 
42 
*4o 
40 

162 
74 
5o 
44 
42 
42 
42 
*<o 
40 

IO.I5    "    
I  I.  I  5    " 

12.15  p.  m  
TIC  " 

2  15  "  
3-15  "  

4  15 

"Leaky.— Leakage  in  "W"  and  "X"  occurred  at  points  where  lugs  were  riveted  to  the  flask. 


TEST  No.  60. 


Each  canteen  was  full.  A  severe  snowstorm  continuously  prevailed  during  this 
test.  All  canteens  were  suspended  from  a  trestle  and  exposed  to  a  high  wind  which 
kept  them  in  motion. 


Hour. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 
Outside 

Temperature.    \ 

B 

C    E 

G 

H|  I  |L|Q|R 

s 

T 

u 

V 

w 

X 

+21                ^0 

21                 38 
21                  32 
21                  32 
21                 31 

5050 
36:50 

3640 
3236 
32134 

1     1 
50  50;  50  50  50 

5050484644 
44^0364038 
421363436134 
40323234134 

50 

44 
38 
34 
34 

5° 

46 

38 
34 
3-1 

5? 

46 

38 
34 
34 

50 

38 
32 
32 
32 

50 

36 

50 

34 
32 
32 
32 

1  2  CO  TH                         .              .  -  . 

^00      " 

t  !'  rozen. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


75 


/V»  /Ot/l> 

vWtaw  Jrmy  BoHU  *M     India* Anny &ttlt 
car&vre  fook.       *>ikou4  cover. 


Wo. 

ai  FtasJc  »Hl  Skit 


A!».  /02/c 

Jndta*  Army  Bettl* 
affd  Jrajryitry  strap . 

Abunumm  ffas&S  from  tfa.  Lanx  Af/y.  <&,  C*i<x».yQ. Mutely  fTMttmBvy. 


76 


HISTORY    OF    T1IK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.   67. 


Each  canteen  was  full.      A  snowstorm  prevailed  during  first  half  of  test.       All 
the  canteens  were  suspended  from  a  trestle  so  that  free  circulation  obtained. 


H°-                              Temper, 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

A    E 

G 

H 

i 

L 

Q 

R)  S 

T|U|V 

W     X 

+16 

20 
2O 
20 

18 

18 
19 
19 

1 

r 

50 

42 
38 

34 

32 
32 
32 

32 
32 

5° 
40 
40 

38 

% 

34 

r 

5° 
40 

? 

50 
36 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 
32 

50 
40 

36 

32 
32 

32 

% 

5050 
40  40 

3638 
3636 
3235 
3234 
3232 
3232 
32  t 

505050 
404036 

40  38(32 

3836:32 

3232|32 

323232 
32  32  32 

^232  t 

t  I32| 

20 

t 

50 

32 
32 

•JV              

j.  jv 

*•  Ou 
37O         "                       ......... 

•JV 

4-3° 

fFrozen. 


TEST  No.   68. 


Each  filled  canteen  was  plunged  into  a  snowbank,  and  kept  buried  in  the  snow 
through  the  period  of  the  test — eight  and  one-half  hours. 


Hour. 


Outside 
Temperature.     A    E    G    H  I  I 


8. 30  a.  m . 
10.00     " 
i  i.oo     "     . 
I2.OO    in.    . 

i .  oo  p.  in 

2.00     "     . 

3-oo    «     . 

4.00     "     . 

5.00    « 


+25 

20 
26 
12 
32 
30 
31 
32 
32 


Temperature  of  V>"atcr  in  Canteens. 

X~15    ATT 


3242 


3232403  ._ 
32324038138 

5232 


38  42  38  40  40 

;8!38 


344038 


60      60  60  60  60  60  60  60^  69  6060  60 

42  48  52  42:46  42  42^4  42146  48  4OJ32J42I5O  48 

38  36  48  42|44J42j42|42  42  44J46  38:32J34I5O  34 

3632 

4034 

32 


TIT          «^          +J 

v    38  4*4042  40  40  44  44^36  32 

42  40  40  40  40,40  4°i42|52  36  38132,46 


38424436343242 
384014035323238 
383813834321323632 

'  381383432132134 


PRACTICAL  SERVICE  CONDITIONS  SIMULATED  BY  TESTS  OF  CANTEENS. 

In  making  tests  of  canteens  and  canteen  flasks,  effort  has  been 
made  to  simulate  conditions  of  military  service  as  nearly  as  possible. 
In  every  test  it  has  been  assumed  that  a  soldier  is  equipped  with  a 
canteen  capable  of  holding  about  three  (3)  pints  of  water;  further, 
that  he  is  in  the  open  air  for  a  period  of  eight  (8)  hours,  at  the 
expiration  of  which  time  his  canteen  has  either  been  emptied, 
partly  emptied,  or  refilled.  In  some  of  the  tests  it  has  been  assumed 
that  the  season  of  the  year  was  summer ;  in  other  tests  that  the 
season  was  winter. 

All  canteens,  or  canteen  flasks  or  water  bottles,  have  been  sub- 
jected to  the  same,  and  uniform,  tests.  In  my  tests,  the  present 
regulation  service  canteen  has  been  included ;  this  to  aid  in  consider- 
ing the  question  of  relative  merit.  The  canteens  have  not  been  of 
the  same  dimensions  or  capacity,  but  the  tests  have  been  so  varied 
as  to  insure  fairness. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  77 

METHODS  OF  TESTING  CANTEENS,  CANTEEN  FLASKS,  WATER  BOT- 
TLES, ETC.,  INTENDED  FOR  USE  IN  THE  MILITARY  SERV- 
ICE, OBSERVED  AT  HEADQUARTERS,  DEPART- 
MENT OF  DAKOTA,  ST.  PAUL, 
MINNESOTA. 

Every  part  of  each  canteen,  flask,  inner  cover,  outer  cover,  cork, 
etc.,  was  examined  as  to  material,  quality,  construction,  weight,  etc. 

Capacity  of  flasks  in  fluid  ounces  noted. 

Weight  of  felt,  canvas,  duck,  or  other  material  employed  as  cov- 
ering, separately  taken,  when  saturated. 

The  canteen  was  then  immersed  for  period  varying  from  thirty 
seconds  to  twelve  (12)  hours,  and  the  total  weight  taken. 

The  canteen  flask  was  then  filled  with  water,  the  temperature 
of  which  varied  from  40  degrees  F.  to  178  degrees  F.,  and  exposed 
usually  for  a  period  of  eight  days,  each  canteen  having  an  exposure 
each  day  of  eight  (8)  consecutive  hours  to  an  open  air  temperature 
varying  from  minus  10  degrees,  F.,  to  plus  125  degrees,  F. 

In  some  cases  the  canteen  flask  was  not  filled  when  so  exposed. 
In  some  cases  hot  coffee  or  hot  tea  was  used  instead  of  water.  In 
some  of  the  tests  the  exterior  surface  of  the  canteen  was  wet  before 
the  test.  In  some  of  the  tests  the  exterior  surface  of  the  canteen 
was  dry  before  and  during  the  test.  Experiments  were  made  with 
both  wet  and  dry  covers. 

Tests  were  equitable  and  impartial.  No  unfair  interference  with 
any  canteen  during  a  test — as  by  wetting  or  adjusting — was  prac- 
ticed. When  conditions  or  positions  or  environments  were  changed 
during  the  progress  of  a  test,  record  of  same  was  noted  and  made. 

In  some  of  the  tests  the  canteens  were  suspended  from  a  trestle 
or  tree,  where  free  circulation  and  exposure  to  air,  light  and  heat 
or  cold,  was  maintained,  without  contact,  for  several  hours. 

Some  of  the  tests  involved  attaching  the  canteen  to  the  saddle 
and  subsequent  transportation  for  several  hours,  the  canteens  being- 
attached  in  such  a  manner  as  to  receive  warmth  from  the  body  of 
the  horse. 

In  some  cases  the  filled,  or  partly  filled,  canteen  was  thrown 
into  an  army  wagon  and  so  jolted  around  for  a  day — more  or  less — 
on  a  hunting  or  fishing  trip,  the  tests  being  made  during  the  trip  or 
immediately  at  its  conclusion. 

Mercurial  thermometers  were  used  in  testing,  uniform  make, 
selected  for  uniform  readings.  None  others  employed. 

Beside  each  canteen,  or  between  the  canteens,  wLen  suspended 


78  HISTORY    <>F    TIIK    MILITARY    CAXTKKX. 

and  whenever  possible  at  all.  a  thermometer  was  hung  from  which 
hourly  readings  were  taken  by  insertions  in  the  iluid  within  the 
canteen.  Outside  temperature  taken  hourly  on  the  spot.  Ther- 
mometers were  frequently  compared  and  verified.  See  cut  of  Trestle 
used. 

During  some  of  the  tests  a  few  ounces  of  water  were  taken  from 
the  canteens  every  hour  or  so.  \Yhen  this  was  done  the  water  was 
not  replaced. 

The  tests  cover  a  period  embracing  spring,  summer,  fall,  winter, 
and  were  made  in  many  localities. 

During  some  of  the  tests  the  canteen  was  kept  in  constant 
motion  by  the  wind,  or  by  jolting  on  a  moving  bicycle,  or  by  pre- 
vailing rain  or. snow  storms.  In  the  majority  of  the  tests,  tropical 
condition  or  frigid  conditions  did  not  have  to  be  simulated  ;  they 
prevailed. 

In  some  cases  the  canteen  was  tested  by  laying  on  the  grass  or 
the  ground,  on  the  sand,  on  a  window  sill  of  granite,  under  canvas, 
on  a  government  blanket,  tent  floor,  house  top  or  roof ;  the  position 
being  either  flat,  tipped  tip,  etc.  Sometimes  the  cantcents  were  laid 
on  the  snow,  or  in  contact  with  ice. 

In  exceptional  cases,  the  canteen  was  placed  in  a  hot  air  sterilizer, 
used  as  an  incubator;  or  in  a  cold  storage  room,  or  beer  vault  of 
uniform  temperature,  thermometer  always  with  it,  but  I  have  con- 
cluded that  these,  being  artificial  tests,  are  unsafe  guides. 

An  exceptional  manner  of  testing  it  was  to  place  the  canteen 
so  as  to  receive  the  direct  action  of  a  fire  f !  om  a  fire-place  cr  stove ; 
or  in  an  oven,  or  the  direct  or  indirect  action  of  a  steam  or  hot  air 
radiator.  Some  were  hung  over  boilers  in  such  manner  as  to  secure 
high  and  uniform  temperature.  Some  were  exposed  under  glass 
covers  exposed  to  the  sun  and  so  placed  as  to  allow  free  access  of 
air. 

All  of  these  tests  reported  from  these  headquarters  were  made 
by  one  person.  No  other  person  handled  the  canteens  or  thermome- 
ters. In  these  latter  tests  the  canteens  under  trial,  and  thermometers, 
remained  in  the  hands  of  that  person. 

In  cases  where  a  canteen  became  from  any  cause  too  leaky  for 
further  use,  or  burst,  or  collapsed,  it  was  replaced  when  practicable 
by  another  of  the  same  kind  and  the  latter  treated  as  a  new  canteen. 

When  a  canteen  passed  through  the  regular  tests,  i.  e.,  eight 
days  of  eight  consecutive  hours  each,  it  was  subjected  to  supple- 
mentary tests  to  determine  its  endurance,  etc. 


HISTORY    OF    Till-:    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  79 

In  military  service  any  and  every  canteen  is  certain  to  l>c  sub- 
jected to  hard  usage;  to  be  knocked  about,  to  be  bent  or  battered; 
hence  a  fair  degree  of  tensile  strength,  durability  and  rigidity  is  a 
requisite  to  be  taken  into  consideration. 

ALUMINUM  AS  A  MATERIAL  FOR  CANTEEN  FLASKS. 

The  working  of  aluminum  by  forging,  rolling,  stamping,  spin- 
ning, casting,  joining  and  Finishing  may  yet  include  the  production 
of  an  American-made  canteen  in  a  single  piece  suited  to  military 
service. 

Of  all  the  European  countries,  Italy  is  probably  as  far  advanced 
as  any  in  the  utilization  of  aluminum  for  practical  and  scientific 
purposes.  In  the  army,  aluminum  is  there  used  to  make  the  fuses  for 
the  shells  of  their  guns.  In  the  navy  for  searchlight  purposes,  furni- 
ture on  board  torpedo  destroyers,  also  in  the  metallic  part  of  telephone 
apparatus. 

Aluminum  is  used  in  the  British  army  for  officers'  outfits;  for 
water  bottles ;  cavalry  mess  kits ;  "Chitral"  canteens ;  infantry  can- 
teens ;  regimental  mess  utensils  and  table  wrare. 

The  British  army  infantry  aluminum  canteen  consists  of  an 
outside  pot  about  ?J  inches  in  diameter  by  7  inches  deep,  with  lid 
and  loose  handle  for  packing,  military  camp  kettle  with  folding 
handles  and  detachable  spout,  one  set  of  three  cups,  each  with  fold- 
ing handle,  nested,  and  tea  ball,  all  fitting  inside  kettle.  In  addition 
to  the  above  are  included  3  plates,  knives,  forks,  dessert  and  tea 
spoons,  and  three  condiment  boxes.  The  whole  of  these  are  packed 
in  the  outside  pot,  ?J  inches  by  7  inches,  and  the  total  weight  is  about 
four  pounds. 

One  maker  has  designed  a  canteen  for  either  two,  three,  or  four 
persons,  and  named  it  "Chitral."  This  has  proved  a  great  success, 
as  it  is  a  frequent  custom  for  two,  three  or  four  officers  to  mess 
together,  and  by  combining  they  can  reduce  their  kit  very  consider- 
ably. The  "Chitral"  canteen  consists  of  a  deep  outer  pot,  loj  inches 
in  diameter  by  10  inches  deep,  and  made  of  stout  metal  to  stand 
knocking  about.  The  lid  of  this  is  a  similar  pot  which  drops  over  the 
top,  but  shallower,  and  thus  forms  a  telescopic  parcel,  as  it  were,  in 
case  of  extra  articles  to  be  crowded  into  the  canteen. 

Inside  this  pot  are  fitted  a  camp  kettle,  sugar,  tea,  cofifee,  and 
flour  boxes,  tea  ball,  three  condiment  boxes,  cups  and  saucers,  dinner 
and  soup  plates,  drinking  cups  and  flask,  and  wine  mugs,  these 
latter  all  nesting,  liquor  cups,  frying  pan  with  folding  handle, 
knives,  forks,  dessert  and  tea  spoons,  and  loose  handle  for  pot  and 


cSo 


HISTORY    OF    TH1-:    .MILITARY    CAXTLEX. 


cc 


fro/n  t/re  JhZuyue  Jotva,  £trantetr*tf  Co.,  Capactfy  #?  %  /fatd,  eunces  . 
hreifJrt.  /M/ed,  ewers  on  ancL  dry,  a&otr£i'/Mn's  £4&.  tretf  &£,&//«&, 
.art,  efter  ten  minutes  ittrtnersio/tjCLvoirclufyots  ?£  e>Ktrc«$>. 
vftfre  err<tnre.l*d,  ftasA,,  estyofy  »o  covers  ott  ,  /6  4  ox.  av. 


HISTORY    OF    THK    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  8l 

lid.     Tlit  whole  is  held   together  with  a  stout  strap  and   forms  a 
most  convenient  parcel  for  transport. 

A  variety  of  other  similar  canteens  and  mess  tins  in  aluminum 
are  being  made  according  to  the  various  requirements  of  different 
regimental  officers,  but  the  above  has  been  turned  out  at  the  rate  of 
some  hundreds  per  week  during  the  last  four  months,  and  the 
demand  is  as  great  as  ever. 

Some  of  the  larger  regimental  messes  of  the  various  army  corps 
as  they  left  England  went  so  far  as  to  adopt  aluminum  entirely  in 
place  of  copper,  iron,  tin,  porcelain,  earthenware,  glass,  etc.  I 
mean  by  this  that  not  only  were  the  kitchens  equipped  with  aluminum 
utensils,  but  the  officers  used  aluminum  exclusively  at  the  mess 
table.  Wine  glasses,  decanters,  milk  jugs,  teapots,  candlesticks, 
trays,  in  fact  nothing  but  aluminum  was  taken  so  long  as  makers 
could  be  found  who  had  a  stock  of  such  articles  in  aluminum  or 
could  make  them  in  the  short  time  required. 

I  have  had  frequent  conversations  with  officers  on  their  return 
from  various  campaigns,  both  from  India,  Egypt,  and  West  Africa, 
during  the  last  few  years,  who  have  taken  out  and  used  aluminum 
kits,  and  they  have  assured  me  that  they  have  no  fault  to  find  with 
the  metal  and  failed  to  conceive  why  the  metal  was  not  adopted  at 
once  throughout  the  service. 

There  is  every  prospect  for  a  further  demand  and  use  of  alu- 
minum for  military  purposes. 

The  British-Boer  War  in  South  Africa  has  stimulated  a  demand 
for  aluminum  field  cooking  and  messing  outfits,  thus  spreading  the 
fame  of  aluminum  and  knowledge  of  its  advantages  for  portable 
gear  among  a  class  of  men  who  will  understand  and  appreciate 
them. 

The  German  Army,  as  well  as  the  field  forces  of  other  con- 
tinental powers,  are  equipped  with  aluminum,  and  the  dead  weight 
per  man  of  superfluous  ornamentation  and  equipment  has  been  con- 
siderably reduced,  tending  to  increased  efficiency  as  a  fighting  unit. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  A  fining  arid  Metallurgical  Section  of  the 
Franklin  Institute,  Philadelphia,  Joseph  A.  Steinmetz  stated  that 
the  plants  now  producing  aluminum  are  those  of  the  Pittsburg 
Reduction  Company,  at  New  Kensington,  Pa.,  and  Niagara  Falls, 
X.  Y. ;  the  British  Aluminum  Company,  of  England;  the  Aluminum 
Industrie  Actien  Gesellschaft,  at  Neuhausen,  at  the  Falls  of  the 
Rhine,  in  Switzerland ;  the  Societe  Electrometallurgique  Francaise, 
at  La  Praz;  the  Societe  Industrielle  de  rAluminum,  at  St.  Michel, 
in  France.  There  are  also  several  large  plants  projected  and  in 


82  HISTORY    OF    Till-:    MILITARY    CAXTKEX. 

course  of  construction,   notably  upon   the   St.   Lawrence    River,   in 
Canada,  and  at  Rheinfelden  and  Salzburg,   in  Germany. 

The  aluminum  canteen  flasks  met  the  test  of  exposure  in  the  open 
air  to  a  temperature  varying  from  10  degrees  F.  to  2  degrees  F. 
better  than  the  tin  flasks.  In  durability  'they  would  better  fulfill 
the  requirements  of  actual  use,  so  exposed. 

Their  cost  will  be  contingent  on  the  market  price  of  aluminum, 
which  metal  has  been  constantly  cheapening  since  its  first  introduc- 
tion for  manufacturing  purposes. 

The  variety  of  shape,  construction,  sizes,  style,  etc.,  of  aluminum 
canteen  flasks  and  water  bottles  is  increasing,  and  American  manu- 
facturers have  shown  a  determination  to  compete  with  the  oldest 
European  aluminum  industries,  as  well  as  with  one  another. 

It  is  claimed  that  it  takes  only  one-third  of  a  pound  of  aluminum 
to  take  the  place  of  a  pound  of  brass,  tin,  or  copper.  Assuming 
this,  the  price  of  one-third  of  a  pound  of  aluminum  compared  with 
that  of  one  pound  of  brass,  copper,  or  tin,  stands  as  follows :  One- 
third  pound  of  aluminum  n  cents ;  one  pound  of  brass,  15  cents  ;  one 
pound  of  copper,  75  cents ;  one  pound  of  tin,  30  cents. 

Probably  some  of  the  aluminum  canteen  flasks,  or  canteens, 
tested  by  me  have  been  alloyed  with,  perhaps,  five  per  cent  of  cop- 
per, nickel,  or  manganese,  or  a  larger  percentage  of  zinc  added  to 
give  strength  and  rigidity.  Canteens  F,  M,  N,  and  O,  appear  to  be 
a  hard  white  alloy  and  are  polished.  Flasks  D  and  K,  also  canteen 
L,  are  soft,  malleable,  silky,  tough,  and  satin  finished,  elastic,  un- 
polished. Their  elastic  qualities  are  especially  apparent  in  a  freez- 
ing environment  when  they  commence  to  bulge,  but  not  rupture  or 
break,  as  the  water  within  the  flask  begins  to  congeal.  When  the 
water  is  converted  into  ice,  an  expansion  ensues,  the  ductile  alum- 
inum yields  to  the  pressure,  the  concave  side  becomes  protuberant 
and  permanently  swelled,  bellying  outwardly.  The  distension  of 
flask  D  from  this  cause  increased  its  capacity  twenty  per  cent  (20), 
before  its  eighth  trial.  The  metal  dilated, — permanently, — but  did 
not  leak,  at  the  ninth  trial.  It  is  not  resilient.  See  cuts  D  and  L. 

Canteen  P,  is  unpolished.  Flasks  N  and  O  do  not  stand  up  as 
well  as  the  German  made  flasks.  The  fifth  day  of  the  trial  showed  a 
slight  leak  in  each  N  and  O, — although  the  firm  says  in  a  communi- 
cation to  me :  "We  beg  to  advise  you  that  of  the  various  shapes  of 
aluminum  canteens  that  we  have  made,  there  is  not  a  single  one  that 
we  have  soldered  *  *  *  We  have  devised  ways  a-nd  means  of 
making  them  water  tight  without  solder." 

At  first,  when  flasks  or  canteens  were  tested  in  the  open  air, 


HISTORY  01-'  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  83 

when  the  temperament  hccamc  sueli  that  they  were  in  danger  of 
freezing,  I  withdrew  them  ;  but,  latterly,  I  have  allowed  them  to 
freeze.  This  was  to  test  them  to  the  limit  of  their  endurance  and 
specially  to  discover,  if  possible,  whether  any  of  the  so-called  water- 
tight, one-piece,  or  seamless,  flasks  had  been  soldered  in  such  wise 
as  to  show  no  lines  of  juncture,  etc.,  visible  outwardly.  Also  be- 
cause the  manufacturers  alleged  that  they  were  water-tight.  The 
number  of  people  who  want  to  take  the  United  States  into  partner- 
ship with  them  in  altruistic  ventures  is  very  great.  Manufacturers 
are  willing  to  get  up  so-and-so  many  thousand  devices, — provided 
the  United  States  will  give  a  guarantee  in  advance.  One  benefactor 
of  soldiers  writes,  in  substance,  that,  knowing  the  dependence  of  man 
upon  his  canteen  in  an  arid  region,  he  is  ready  to  utilize  envelopes 
of  frozen  liquir  air  for  the  canteen  flask,  if  the  War  Department 
will  advance  him  the  cost  of  the  plant  involved  and  necessary  for 
the  invention,  which  is  not  patented.  Another  suggests  indurated 
fiber  and  wood  pulp  as  the  material  for  flasks.  Another  writes  "I' 
could  make  a  canteen  in  two  pieces  that  would  answer  all  require- 
ments. I  have  no  money  to  burn,  and  so  do  not  propose  to  experi- 
ment on  same.  If  there  was  a  contract  in  prospect, — no  doubt  but 
I  should  struggle  for  the  contract." 

Mr.  Joseph  Koenig,  Manager  of  the  Two  Rivers,  Wis.,  Alum- 
inum Manufacturing  Co.,  writes  as  follows:  "We  are  asked  by 
Messrs.  Lanz,  Owen  &  Co.,  Chicago,  Ills.,  to  make  a  canteen  which 
is  to  hold  about  forty-eight  ounces  of  fluid,  and  to  be  of  seamless 
metal. 

"We  certainly  think  that  aluminum  is  the  proper  metal,  as  we  un- 
derstand the  German  army  is  equipped  with  these.  The  same  has 
not  been  manufactured,  so  far,  in  the  United  States ;  but  we  could 
do  this  work,  if  there  was  any  possible  chance  of  getting  the  govern- 
ment contract  for  the  same. 

"To  make  one  of  these  canteens  means  to  go  to  an  expense  of 
$500  for  tools  and  experiments,  and  unless  there  is  a  possibility  of 
getting  a  contract,  it  would  not  pay  to  undertake  this  expense.  This 
is  probably  the  only  reason  why  no  one  has  manufactured  this  can- 
teen, as  yet,  in  the  United  States. 

"This  canteen,  if  it  be  made  of  one  piece,  could  not  be  round  as 
the  present  canteen  is,  but  would  have  to  be  oblong,  being  higher 
than  wide  at  its  widest  direction  ;  depressed  on  its  body  side,  rounded 
on  the  other  side. 

We  have  no  doubt  at  all  in  our  mind,  but  that  this  is  the  can  for 
the  purpose,  if  spun  of  pure  aluminum,  not  of  any  alloy  of  any  kind. 


84  HISTORY    01'    THE    MILITAKY    C.\  NTKI .  N I. 

unless  the  IK-W  mainu^ian  :dli»y  slmuM  In-  proven  IIHMV  superior  than 
llic  pure  aluminum. 

We  understand  that  the  Government  cannot  undertake  to  give 
a  contract  before  the  article  is  made  and  tested,  but  is  it  not  possible 
that  the  Government  can  advance  a  small  amount,  say  $200,  to  pro- 
duce some  samples  for  a  test  ? 

We  would  then  be  willing  to  stand  the  rest  of  the  expense,  know- 
ing that  we  would  have  some  prospects  of  obtaining  the  contract. 
We  do  not  care  to  spend  time  for  experimental  purposes  and  finally 
only  have  competitors  to  meet  on  exceptionally  low  rates,  and  have 
the  same  tendency  to  use  thinner  metal  and  price  cutting  evolved 
that  always  takes  place  on  new  articles.  If  this  is  the  case,  we 
would  not  care  to  give  you  any  figure  on  the  same  and  would  not 
bother  with  them.  If  you  will  advance  money  on  the  experimental 
work,  will  go  ahead  after  the  article  has  developed.  So  far  as  we 
see,  these  canteens  have  not  been  made  in  the  United  States.  If  we 
did  not  know  what  difficulties  were  involved  we  would  not  ask  you 
to  show  us  consideration  if  we  undertake  these  experiments  and 
make  up  the  tools  for  the  article.  We  certainly  can  make  the  can- 
teens ;  it  is  only  a  matter  of  cost  for  the  tools.  Cast  aluminum  will 
not  stand  the  wear.  It  will  corrode.  The  flasks  will  have  to  be  spun, 
not  of  absolutely  pure  aluminum.'' 

The  economy  attending  the  use  of  aluminum  as  a  substitute  for 
tin  in  flasks  of  canteens  intended  for  use  in  the  military  service  of  the 
United  States  cannot  be  now  dwelt  upon  for  various  reasons,  one  of 
which  reasons  is  that  no  canteen  flask  made  of  aluminum  or  its 
alloys,  made  in  the  United  States,  has  yet  been  presented  to  me  that 
co'mpared  favorably  with  the  German  made  canteens  loaned  me  for 
trial  by  the  Lanz  Canteen  Co.,  of  Chicago,  111. 

The  aluminum  canteen  flasks  furnished  me  by  the  firm  last  named 
were  probably  spun ;  they  were  single  piece ;  they  did  not  leak ;  the 
Lanz  Canteen  Co.  did  not  quote  their  cost  or  selling  price. 

All  of  the  aluminum  canteens  from  the  New  Jersey  Co.,  four  in 
.  number,  leaked. 

The  same  defect,  viz. :  leakage,  existed  in  the  trials  made  of  the 
aluminum  canteen  submitted  for  test  by  the  Broadway,  X.  Y.  City, 
firm. 

So  far  as  my  tests  are  concerned,  no  flask  made  from  more  than 
one  piece  of  aluminum  or  aluminoid  has  withstood,  without  disjunc- 
tions and  leakage,  the  variations  of  temperature  ranging  from  minus 
10°  F.  to  plus  125°  F.  Blueprints  accompanying  this  report  show 
graphically  that  the  flasks  submitted  for  test  by  the  Jersey  Aluminum 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


(/.  <5.  Ar/tty  J&ytt/atie*  fcrutce  Trh  Ffaik, 
0r<J*anc<t  faittirir.  no  cwcr. 
/X  ox. 


Arrow  sJie»3  nbtrt  fafafe  kjan 


86  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    (A  .\  IKKN . 

Co.,  also  the  kcymoiul  &  Gottlob  canteen,  in  common  with  the 
Dubuque  Stamping  &  Enamel  Co.  canteen,  also  the  tin  llask  I'.  S. 
regulation  service  canteen,  all  leaked  where  the  pieces  had  been 
joined.  The  small  Karlsruhe,  Baden,  Germany,  flask,  is  probably 
pure  spun  aluminum  in  one  piece.  It  stood  the  test  remarkably  well, 
bursting  only  after  its  capacity  increased  from  25  to  30  ounces.  In 
Test  No.  59 — the  capacity  of  Canteen  L  increased  from  60  to  64 
ounces — it  did  not  burst. 

Janney,  Steinmets  &  Co.,  Manufacturers  of  Aluminum, — Mr. 
Joseph  A.  Janney,  Jr.,  and  Joseph  A.  Steinmetz.,  Drexel  Building, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.,  were  among  the  earliest  advocates  of  aluminum  as 
a  metal  for  army  canteens.  The  firm,  at  one  time,  had  samples  of  the 
army  canteens  of  France,  Russia,  Germany,  England,  and  Air. 
Steinmetz  states,  recommended  certain  canteen  improvements  to  cer- 
tain military  authorities.  He  alleges  willingness  to  have  his  foreign 
agents  secure  from  military  depots  abroad,  canteens  more  sanitary 
than  the  present  regulation  flask  canteen,  of  which  Mr.  Steinmetz 
writes  as  follows:  "The  present  U.  S.  Army  tin  canteen,  which  is 
practically  the  same,  with  its  rough  edges  and  abominably  inserted, 
separate,  neck  piece,  which  prevents  the  canteen  ever  being  drained 
or  cleaned,  is,  without  doubt,  a  worse  death-breeder  in  our  army  thar 
all  the  combined  opposing  forces  that  we  have  ever  met  in  battle,  is  a 
matter  of  cheap  economics.  Then,  too,  the  expense  of 

making  up  a  lot  of  samples  which  would  naturally  be  expected  to 
be  donated,  is  not  to  be  considered  from  a  business  point  of  view, 
but  the  matter  of  the  canteen  has  interested  me  very  much  indeed. 
The  canteen  you  have  in  mind  \vill  certainly  cost  more  than  the  pres- 
ent tin  death-trap:' 

The  Wagner  Aluminum  Manufacturing  Co.,  Sidney,  Ohio,  ad- 
vertises that  its  combined  production  of  hollow- ware  cast  aluminum, 
two  factories,  is  the  largest  in  the  world. 

I  am  in  receipt  of  two  letters  from  this  company  and  extract 
as  follows  :  <lWe  should  be  glad  to  experiment  and  see  what  could 
be  done  in  the  line  of  aluminum  canteens.  We  do  all  kinds  of  cast 
aluminum  work  and  believe  it  could  be  made  much  more  durable, 
as  the  metal  can  be  alloyed  to  give  it  strength.  When  w7e  wrote  you 
before,  we  were  under  the  impression  that  it  would  be  possible  to  cast 
them  in  one  piece,  but,  after  studying  the  matter  over,  we  have  come 
to  the  conclusion  that  it  would  be  almost  impossible  to  successfully 
make  them  in  one  piece.  *  *  We  are  sorry  that  we  cannot  see 

our  way  clear  to  experiment  and  see  what  can  be  done  with  them. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  8/ 

We  are  mailing  you  a  copy  of  our  catalogue  and.  think  possibly 
you  may  see  something  in  our  line  of  aluminum  cooking  utensils 
that  could  be  used  in  the  army,  or  possibly  you  could  suggest  some 
special  patterns  that  could  be  made  for  army  use.  All  of  our  goods 
are  made  of  cast  aluminum  and  give  the  best  of  satisfaction  even 
when  used  very  roughly,  and  are  a  great  deal  more  durable  than  any 
stamped  or  spun  aluminum.  We  believe  if  cast  aluminum  was 
adopted  for  cooking  utensils  in  the  army,  they  would  give  a  great 
deal  better  satisfaction  than  what  is  being  used,  for  they,  no  doubt, 
would  be  much  more  durable  and  lighter  to  carry." 

The  Pittsburg  Reduction  Co.,  Pittsburg  and  New  Kensingston, 
l\i.,  and  Niagara  Falls,  N.  Y.,  Manufacturers  of  Aluminum. — This 
organization  has  purchased  the  aluminum  plant  of  the  Hill,  Whit- 
ney &  Wood  Co.,  in  Waltham,  Mass.,  and  will  move  it  to  New  Ken- 
sington, Westmoreland  Co.,  Pa.,  as  the  nucleus  of  an  aluminum 
finishing  department.  Lieut.  Col.  Henry  H.  Whitney,  Aide-de- 
Camp  to  General  Miles,  and  Major  Wm.  C.  Brown,  ist  U.  S. 
Cavalry,  are  acquainted  with  the  Secretary  and  General  Manager — 
Arthur  V.  Davis.  Reports  regarding  aluminum  articles  for  Army 
equipment  have  been  made  by  the  Officers  named. 

The  Company  bought  a  number  of  German  canteens  sometime 
ago,  two  of  which  are  now  in  my  possession.  They  are  made  of  a 
solid  piece  of  aluminum,  by,  I  am  told,  Carl  Berg,  whose  works 
are  at  Eveking,  Westphalia,  Germany.  See  Cut  V. 


Mr.  A.  V.  Davis  says,  regarding  single  piece,  spun  aluminum 
flasks : 

"The  process  of  manufacture  is  the  usual  process  of  first  spinning 
and  afterwards  pressing  by  means  of  inside  pressure. 

The  latter  corresponds  in  general  to  an  ordinary  stamping 
process  except  that  the  steel  mould  forming  the  shape  is  on  the 
outside  rather  than  on  the  inside.  The  half  formed  utensil  is  put 
into  the  die  and  pressure,  usually  by  means  of  water,  is  applied  to 
the  inside  of  the  utensil  until  it  swells  out  and  conforms  to  the  shaped 
outside  and  retaining  mould. 

This  company  expects  to  take  up  the  manufacture  of  single 
piece  canteens,  provided  there  is  a  possibility  of  introducing  such  into 
the  Army,  the  object,  of  course,  being  profit  to  itself  alone. 

In  a  recent  communication  the  General  Manager  also  says:  "In 
regard  to  cast  aluminum,  we  think  it  has  both  commercial  and  me- 


88  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

chanical  objections.  Cast  aluminum,  like  any  other  cast  metal,  is 
more  or  less  porous,  and  we  take  it  that  chances  of  leaks  in  defect- 
ive utensils  should  be  permitted.  Furthermore,  to  make  a  cast 
utensil  requires  at  least  a  thickness  of  1-16  inch  and  usually  -J- 
inch,  and  this  runs  the  weight  and  consequent  expense  to  a  high 
figure. 

"In  regard  to  the  use  of  tin,  we  take  it  that  the  objections  are 
not  at  all  on  the  score  of  corrodibility,  but  on  account  of  the  me- 
chanical quality  of  softness.  A  canteen  made  of  sheet-tin  (I  sup- 
pose, of  course,  you  mean  pure  tin  and  not  tin  plate,  the  rusting 
objections  to  which  are  obvious)  would  be  too  soft  for  practical 
purposes.  It  would  be  nearly  as  soft  as  if  made  of  lead.  Further- 
more the  weight  and  price  of  tin  as  compared  with  aluminum  would 
be  about  three  times  as  great." 

New  Jersey  Aluminum  Company. — Mr.  C.  A.  Kryttschnett, 
Manager  of  the  New  Jersey  Aluminum  Co.,  Newark,  X.  J.,  writes: 
"We  take  special  note  of  your  remarks  that  the  German  canteens 
have  surpassed  anything  of  American  manufacture ;  allowing  this 
to  be  so,  we  do  not  believe  the  American  could  not  do  equally  as 
well  if  we  were  all  given  another  chance.  We  have  probably  all 
made  the  same  mistake  of  trying  to  produce  something  cheap  in- 
stead of  something  strictly  of  first  class  quality,  and,  speaking  for 
ourselves,  we  did  not  know  to  what  these  canteens  might  be  sub- 
jected, but  we  knew  that  they  would  hold  water;  in  fact,  it  was 
hung  up  here  in  our  establishment  for  six  months  without  any  leak- 
ages ;  but  such  tests  as  you  have  given  them  are  mere  severe  than 
anything  we  could  have  thought  of.  This  is  why  we  \vrote  you 
as  wre  did  that  your  tests  would  be  valuable  to  the  manufacturers  of 
canteens.  We  should  very  much  like  to  have  another  trial  at  it,  and, 
if  possible,  to  have  you  send  us  one  of  the  German  canteens ;  per- 
haps we  might  even  improve  on  the  same.  Furthermore,  we  believe 
it  only  to  be  fair  and  just  to  American  manufacturers  for  Uncle 
Sam  to  patronize  home  industry.  We  feel  confident  that  canteens 
can  be  made  in  this  country  that  will  meet  all  requirements." 

Cast,  vs.  Stamped,  Aluminum. — The  Griswold  Manufacturing 
Co.,  Erie,  Pa.,  for  the  production  of  the  "Erie  cast  aluminum  ware ; 
New  York  warerooms,  294  Pearl  St.,  writes  as  follows:  "We  do 
not  make  anything  in  the  way  of  an  aluminum  flask.  This  would 
naturally  be  made  of  our  stamped  ware." 

The  firm  claims  as  a  few  points  of  merit  of  its  hollow  aluminum 


HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  89 

cast  ware  as  follows :  "Each  piece  is  cast  solid  in  one  piece,  leaving 
no  seams  or  points  to  leak.  Being  cast,  it  is  strong  and  stiff  and 
cannot  be  annealed  by  heat,  while  thin  stamped  aluminum  ware 
warps  and  becomes  soft  after  being  heated.  Aluminum  as  a  metal 
leads  for  cooking  utensils.  The  'Erie'  ware  does  not  tarnish  and 
can  be  kept  bright  by  cleaning  same  as  silverware.  It  is  solid, 
without  plating;  no  plating  or  enamel  to  wear  off;  no  poisonous 
metal;  they  are  absolutely  pure  and  will  last  for  ever;  cast  all  in 
one  piece ;  no  seams  or  rivets  to  leak ;  no  enamel  to  flake  off ;  rivets 
are  cast  on  the  outside  of  the  piece,  leaving  no  marks  inside ;  light 
and  strong;  either  polished  or  satin  finish;  fruit  acids  do  not  affect 
it ;  will  not  tarnish  ;  no  solder  used ;  no  rust ;  practically  incorro- 
dible ;  no  cracking  or  shelling  off,  all  of  the  porcelain,  agate  and 
enameled  ware  of  various  kinds  shell  off,  the  cause  being  that  the 
latter  (like  the  Dubuque  Stamping  &  Enamel  Co.  canteen)  are  a 
combination  of  mineral  and  metal,  one  expanding  under  conditions 
which  make  the  other  contract,  and  vice  versa,  resulting  in  a  gen- 
eral disintegration  of  the  whole." 

The  firm  claims  that  the  superiority  of  the  "Erie"  cast  alum- 
inum ware  over  the  stamped  aluminum  ware  is  manifest  by  the 
following  physical  property  of  the  metal : 

Aluminum  hardens  remarkably  when  it  is  being  worked  by  press- 
ing, forging,  rolling,  stamping,  or  other  similar  treatments.  The 
working  imparts  stiffness  or  temper,  same  as  in  high  brass  or  copper. 
A  vessel  made  from  sheet  aluminum,  stiffened  as  above,  when  it 
is  put  over  the  fire  and  heated  and  then  allowed  to  cool,  is  annealed ; 
after  heating  a  few  times  it  becomes  soft  like  lead,  whereas  the 
metal  in  the  cast  ware  is  melted  and  chilled  in  the  mould  and  cannot 
be  annealed.  Again,  to  make  a  casting,  it  is  three  or  four  times 
thicker  than  the  stamped,  therefore  it  is  stronger,  holds  and  con- 
ducts the  heat  better  and  is  less  liable  to  burn  or  scorch.  Lastly, 
much  better  shaped  vessels  can  be  made  by  casting  than  by  stamp- 
ing. Cast  ware,  though  higher  priced  at  first  than  stamped,  is 
cheaper  in  the  end.  An  extraordinary  feature  of  aluminum  is  its 
heat-retaining  or  non-radiating  attributes.  Aluminum  discoloration 
can  be  prevented  with  one-half  the  care  bestowed  on  other  metals 
by  using  liquid  solerine  to  clean  with. 

Aluminum  solder  for  Canteens.— A  satisfactory  solder  for  use 
on  any  metal  should  fulfill  the  following  requirements:  I.  It  should 
fuse  readily.  2.  It  must  alloy  easily  with  the  metal,  in  common 
parlance  it  must  "bite."  3.  It  must  be  tough.  4.  It  must  not  disin- 


HISTORY    or    THL-:    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


Ga&retac/re. 
use  of  ^feu/ffeoC  G/ficers  {/. 


Md&r,  for  the 


Sca/e: 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  91 

tegrate.  5.  It  must  have  the  same  color  as  the  metal.  6.  It  should 
not  discolor  with  age.  7.  It  should  not  he  too  expensive.  8.  It 
must  How  into  a  joint.  9.  For  joining  aluminum,  it  must  stand 
very  near  aluminum  in  the  electro-chemical  series,  particularly  zinc, 
and  carry  its  own  flux. 

Since  aluminum  has 'become  a  common  metal,  numerous  invent- 
ors and  metallurgists  have  endeavored  to  produce  a  solder  which 
would  unite  pieces  of  the  metal  in  the  same  way  that  brass,  tin,  and 
other  metals  can  be  joined  by  a  tin-lead  solder.  Most  of  the  solders 
produced  have  required  the  use  of  a  blowpipe,  or  special  tools  or 
fluxes,  which  are  not  handy  for  metal  workers.  All  have  disinteg- 
rated after  the  canteen  flask  has  been  filled  for  five  or  six  days 
with  water.  Most  of  the  solders  contain  lead,  tin,  bismuth  or  phos- 
phorous, and  discolor  with  age. 

The  "Aluminum  World,"  published  at  218  William  St.,  N.  Y., 
is  authority  for  the  statement  that,  although  there  are  a  number  of 
solders  in  the  market,  and  one  new  one  which  promises  good  re- 
sults, no  solder  has  yet  been  produced  that  is  valuable  for  canteen 
purposes,  the  defect  being  that  they  did  not  hold  when  the  joint  got 
wet,  there  being  a  galvanic  action  started  between  the  aluminum 
and  the  solder. 

The  Hill,  Whitney  &  Wood  Co.,  115  Bacon  St.,  Waltham,  Mass., 
manufacturing  specialists  in  "Aluminoid,"  also  pure  Aluminum, 
either  cast,  stamped,  or  spun,  write  as  follows :  "We  do  not  know 
of  any  real  practical  solder  or  method  of  soldering  aluminum  can- 
teens. There  are  two  or  three  different  solders,  but  none  of  these 
work  satisfactorily,  or  are  practical  for  work  of  that  kind.  Rich- 
ard's solder,  sold  by  Janney  &  Steinmetz,  Drexel  Building,  Phila- 
delphia, and  Green's  solder,  sold  by  Edward  X.  Cook.  144  Pine  St., 
Providence,  R.  I.,  are  the  best  we  have  used.  A  new  solder  has 
come  out  recently  called  the  "McAdamite  Solder"  (W.  A.  Mc- 
Adams,  987  Kent  St.,  Borough  of  Brooklyn,  X.  Y.).  We  have  never 
tried  this,  but  have  a  sample  in  our  office  which  we  will  try  at  the 
first  opportunity. 

"Xone  of  the  solder  we  have  ever  had  will  run  or  flow  into  a 
joint  readily,  and  therefore  it  makes  a  very  difficult  operation  to 
solder  anything,  and  we  avoid  it  as  much  as  possible. 

"We  make  a  flask  in  two  sizes,  half  a  pint  and  pint,  of  one  piece 
of  metal,  which,  of  course,  is  much  better  than  could  possibly  be 
made  of  two  pieces.  We  have  experimented  a  little  on  the  line  of 
making  a  canteen  from  one  piece,  but  have  not  as  yet  completed  our 
experiment.  We  feel  quite  confident  we  can  do  it  all  right,  although 


C)2  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

we  might  be  compelled  to  change  the  shape  a  little  from  the  regula- 
tion shape  now  used  by  the  army.  \Ye  shall  continue  our  experi- 
menting, and,  if  successful,  will  advise  you  later. 

"We  shall  not  consider  an  experiment  with  anything  but  a  seam- 
less canteen,  as  we  do  not  think  there  is  any  solder  that  is  reliable 
for  aluminum. 

"In  reeard  to  an  aluminum  canteen,   we   do  not  feel  confident 

O 

that  it  would  be  altogether  satisfactory,  for  the  reason  that  it  dis- 
colors whisky  after  standing  in  it  for  some  time. 

"There  is,  however,  no  poisonous  or  injurious  substance  in  the 
metal,  but  possibly  there  would  not  be  so  much  whisky  drank  if  it 
should  be  slightly  discolored  from  the  metal.  I  do  not  know  that  it 
affects  the  taste  in  the  least.  We  have  sold  quite  a  number  of 
flasks,  and  have  people  report  to  us  that  it  discolored  whisky. 

"It  would  certainly  be  very  much  lighter  than  anything  else 
used  and  would  not  rust  or  corrode  like  tin  or  enameled  ware. 

"We  see  no  reason  why  this  metal  should  net  be  all  right  for 
canteens.  We  know  that  the  German  army  are,  or  have  been,  using 
aluminum  flasks  and  canteens,  but  do  not  know  with  what  suc- 
cess, nor  whether  they  are  made  in  one  piece  or  soldered  together. 
They  can  be  made  in  that  way,  but  it  is  hardly  practicable." 

Janney  &  Steinmetz,  Drexel  Building,  Philadelphia,  Pa.,  Alum- 
inum Merchants,  state  that  Dr.  Joseph  Richards,  of  Lehigh  Univer- 
sity, Metallurgical  and  Chemical  Department,  School  of  Analytical 
Chemistry,  invented  a  solder  recommended  by  Mr.  J.  C.  Ashton, 
General  Manager  of  the  Illinois  Pure  Aluminum  Co.,  the  largest 
manufacturers  of  aluminum  cooking  utensils  in  the  world.  Fur- 
ther that  the  Richards'  solder  is  pronounced  satisfactory  by  the 
Aluminum  Industrie  Actien-Gesellschaft,  the  greatest  aluminum 
manufacturing  company  in  the  world.  Also  that  the  Pittsburg  Re- 
duction Co.  uses  it.  Also  that  Xaval  Contractors  and  Pay  Inspect- 
ors, 1",  S.  Xavy,  have  ordered  supplies  of  it  after  careful  and  in- 
telligent experiment. 

"It  is  known,"  say  Janney  £  Steinmetz,  "that  either  pure  tin  or 
pure  zinc  will  join  aluminum,  and  it  is  a  very  common  fault  to  note 
that  the  bulk  of  the  so-called  solders  are  composed  chiefly  of  those 
metals,  but  the  use  of  these  worthless  solders  has  caused  heavy 
losses  to  manufacturers  of  aluminum  goods." 

The  lack  of  an  easy  solder  more  than  anything  else  retards  the 
use  of  aluminum  as  a  material  for  canteen  flasks  in  the  United 
States.  On  the  other  hand,  the  German  Arms  and  Ammunition 
Factories,  Berlin,  Karlsruhe,  write:  "We  will  shortly  manufao 


HISTORY  ui-   THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  93 

lure  an  aluminum  flask  No.  16,  capacity  1.5  liter  (^o  ox.),  with 
ring's,  and  another  one  with  loops  (or  ears),  as  samples.  See  blue- 
prints "\V"  and  "\,"  herewith.  The  date  (on  specifications)  fur- 
nished by  you,  regarding  the  execution  of  the  flask  will,  as  far  as 
practicable,  be  taken  into  consideration,  and,  upon  completion  of 
the  samples,  we  will  communicate  to  you  our  experiences  gained 
during  the  manufacture  of  the  same.  Later  on,  we  will  submit  to 
you  counter  propositions.  The  cork  (or  stopper)  can  be  fastened 
to  the  neck  with  a  light  chain." 

The  soldering  of  aluminum  is  not  easy ;  cannot  be  done  by  a 
single  modifications  of  old  methods,  such  as  soldering  tinned  iron. 
Aluminum  is  like  copper  and  black  iron,  not  like  tinned  iron,  and 
the  edges  to  be  joined  must  be  cleaned  and  hot  and  tinned  (or  coated) 
and  otherwise  prepared  for  soldering;  no  flux  of  any  description, 
cither  on  the  metal  or  on  the  joint,  being  used. 

The  property  of  aluminum  which  renders  soldering  so  difficult 
is  very  probably  its  easy  oxidation.  Although  apparently  resisting 
oxidation  very  strongly,  yet  this  resistance  is  not  a  simple  process. 
When  a  clean  surface  of  aluminum  is  exposed  to  the  atmosphere  it 
is  instantly  covered  with  a  film  of  oxide,  which,  being  continuous 
and  unalterable,  protects  the  metal  beneath  it  from  further  oxidation. 
This  film  or  oxide  acts  effectually  to  prevent  any  other  metal  from 
coming  in  close  enough  contact  with  the  aluminum  beneath  to  alloy 
with  it,  and  thus  soldering  is  prevented.  The  use  of  a  flux  to  dis- 
solve the  oxide  has  been  tried  under  all  conditions,  but  none  known 
to  the  writer  have  been  found  practicable.  The  Richards'  solder 
was  made  upon  the  conclusion  that  that  solder  should  contain  its 
own  flux,  so  that  the  instant  the  film  of  oxide  was  removed  the 
solder  proper  would  be  simultaneously  present  to  take  hold  of  the 
aluminum  surface  at  the  same  instant  it  was  cleaned  from  oxide.  A 
percentage  of  phosphorous  was  added  to  the  alloy.  Letters  patent 
on  the  use  of  an  oxidizing  agent,  such  as  phosphorous  in  solder, 
were  granted  in  July,  1892 — No.  478,238. 

The  Me  Adamite  Solder  for  Allumimim  or  its  Alloys. — Mr.  W.  A. 
McAdams,  978  Kent  Ave.,  Borough  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  advertises 
as  follows :  "Upon  large  articles  it  is  best  to  tin  or  cover  the 
articles  with  the  solder  by  a  copper  soldering  iron.  Then  to  melt 
them  together  by  a  hand  brazing  blow-pipe.  This  consists  of  two 
pipes,  one  for  gas  and  the  other  for  air,  which  combine  into  one 
mouthpiece  for  the  blue  flame.  This  to  be  blown  by  the  mouth  or 
foot  bellows.  This  hand  brazing  blow-pipe  is  much  used  for  brazing 


94 

liicvck's.     This  l)low-pipc  needs  to  be  moved  by  hand  alono-  ,,r  ahoiil 
the  joint  or  seam  while  the  work  remains  slill. 

A  very  neat  way  to  do  some  kinds  of  work  is  to  follow  the  iron 
in  the  act  of  tinning  (to  cover)  with  a  cloth  and  wipe  off  all  the 
solder  from  the  surface  possible.  When  this  is  done  on  both  the 
surfaces  to  be  joined,  lay  in  a  piece  of  sheet  solder  and  then  melt 
the  parts  together  by  a  mouth  blow-pipe,  or  other  means  of  heat- 
ing. This  sheet  solder  will  be  sent  at  enough  extra  cost  to  cover 
the  cost  of  rolling. 

"To  solder  a  long  seam  edge  to  edge.  This  is  quite  difficult  to 
do  because  of  the  expansion  and  contraction  of  the  sheet  metal.  First 
clean,  and  then  tin  the  edges  with  the  solder,  lay  the  work,  if  pos- 
sible, upon  asbestos  board,  and  tack  in  places  along  the  seam  by 
soldering  and  then  fill  in  the  spaces  between.  Use  a  soldering  iron." 

"Do  not  use  any  fluxes.  This  solder  contains  its  own  flux.  Let 
it  be  clearly  understood  that  these  solders  do  not  flow  into  a  joint 
or  seam ;  they  must  be  put  there. 

"All  these  solders  are  wonderfully  strong  and  permanent.  They 
are  warranted  to  last  as  long  as  the  aluminum  itself.  There  is  no 
decay  or  disintegration.  They  do  not  discolor  by  time.  They 
are  almost  the  same  color  as  the  aluminum,  and  take  a  good  eye  to  see 
the  solder  in  a  finished  off  seam.  There  are  no  stains  to  remove. 

"These  solders  contain  no  lead,  tin,  bismuth,  aluminum,  or  phos- 
phorous. 

"They  will  solder  aluminum  to  aluminum,  or  any  of  its  alloys  to 
each  other,  or  all  of  them  to  brass  or  zinc,  or  brass  to  brass,  or  zinc 
to  zinc,  or  all  of  them,  whether  they  be  cast  or  wrought,  to  each 
other  indiscriminately,  and  do  all  of  them  strongly,  permanently 
and  well,  provided  that  in  the  case  of  the  aluminum  alloys,  the  alum- 
inum is  the  largest  part  of  the  alloy.  Brass  to  brass  is  more  strongly 
soldered  than  by  common  tin  and  lead  solder. 

"There  are  three  grades  of  McAdamite  solder: 

"No.  i,  melting  at  430  degrees  F.,  for  very  thin  articles. 

"No.  2,  melting  at  550  degrees  F.,  the  best  of  the  three  for  gen- 
eral use. 

"Xo.  3,  melting  at  610  degrees  F.,  the  strongest  of  them  all. 

"Sent  by  mail  at  2$c  per  ounce,  or  $3.00  per  lb.,  upon  receipt  of 
price.  Sent  by  freight  or  express  at  buyer's  expense  in  ten  pound 
lots  at  $2.25  per  lb.,  or  $22.50.  No  samples  sent." 

The  L.  F.  Alt  peter  Solder.— L.  F.  Altpeter,  758  So.  Halsted  St., 
Chicago,  Til.,  says  in  the  "Aluminum  World"  regarding  his  hard 


HISTORY    OF    T1IK    MILITARY    CAXTKKX. 


95 


T/re  Lanz  Carry  <56re/y 

tvtrere  the 

vtf-jctck.l  are.   7^«  function 

tke 


of  re  fH  hi  ion 
rry  strap  is  t 


96  IT  I  STORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

and  soft  solders,  that  a  soldering  iron,  blow-pipe,  or  lamp  flame  can 
be  used.  He  claims  a  process  to  solder  copper,  brass  and  other 
metals  to  aluminum. 

Greene's  Aluminum  Solder. — Is  advertised  as  being  manufac- 
tured and  controlled  solely  by  Edward  N.  Cook,  144  Pine  St.,  Provi- 
dence, R.  L,  and  is  alleged  to  be  recommended  by  the  Pittsburg  Re- 
duction Company. 

Eugene  M.  Totten's  Compound  for  Soldering  Aluminum. — A 
new  compound  for  soldering  aluminum  has  been  patented  by  Eu- 
gene M.  Totten,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.  In  the  specifications  of  Letters 
Patent,  No.  667,999,  the  inventor  claims  that  he  has  produced  a 
solder  capable  of  ready  and  immediate  use  without  the  necessity  of 
filing  or  scraping  the  parts  and  without  the  employment  of  a  separ- 
ate flux.  The  compound  is  composed  of  the  following  'ingredients 
in  the  proportion  specified  :  Aluminum,  20  per  cent ;  tin,  38  per  cent ; 
zinc,  40  per  cent,  and  a  hydrocarbon,  2  per  cent. 

"In  the  manufacture  of  the  solder,  aluminum  and  tin  are  first 
melted,  then  the  zinc  is  added,  and  after  the  reduction  of  the  metals 
while  still  in  a  molten  state,  and  without  additional  heating,  there 
is  added  2  per  cent  of  the  hydrocarbon,  which  is  mixed  with  the 
other  ingredients  into  a  homogeneous  mass.  This  latter  ingredient 
may  be  fat,  wax,  parafine,  or  any  other  species  of  hydrocarbon.  Jt 
has  been  demonstrated  that  the  addition  of  a  hydrocarbon  to  the 
alloy,  by  increasing  the  amount  of  carbon  reduces  and  removes  the 
oxides,  which  would  otherwise  form  on  the  melted  metal,  and  in  con- 
sequence the  compound,  when  cool,  is  white  and  free  from  oxides 
when  solid.  It  is  the  carbon  alone  which  effects  the  reduction  of 
the  metallic  oxides  formed  on  the  surface  of  the  aluminum  parts  to 
be  soldered,  and  the  scraping  of  such  parts  is  rendered  unneces- 
sary, because  of  the  non-presence  of  oxides  in  the  soldering  com- 
pound made." 

The  James  Gibson  Slater  Aluminum  Solder. — Mr.  James  Gibson 
.Slater,  whose  residence  is  793  Manning  Ave.,  Toronto,  Canada, 
showed  some  samples  of  soldered  aluminum.  Mr.  Slater  had  joined 
with  a  one-inch  lap,  sheet  metal,  sixteen  inches  in  length.  The 
pieces  were  soldered  with  a  copper  soldering  iron.  From  the  appear- 
ance of  the  articles  the  solder  seems  to  flow  into  the  joint,  and  it  is 
nearly  of  the  same  color  as  aluminum.  Mr.  Slater  guarantees  that 
it  will  hold  under  varying  conditions.  He  can  solder  different 


HISTORY    01-     TIM-:     MII.ITAKY    CANTEEN.  97 

metals  to  aluminum,  and  showed  an  aluminum  faucet  soldered  to  a 
lead  pipe.  He  makes  an  alloy  of  aluminum,  which  he  calls  "Lumi!- 
noid." 

The  Julicn  Xovcl  Aluminum  Soldci'.-^-julizti  Novel,  of  1*51  Rue 
des  Grottes,  Geneva,  Switzerland,  has  invented  a  flux  for"  solxteriflg. 
aluminum  to  aluminum,  or  to  other  metals,  after  the  metals  have 
been  tinned.  The  tinning  and  soldering  fluxes  are  composed  of 
stearic  acid  five  parts,  resin  two  parts,  and  oleic  acid  one  part.  The 
usual  soldering  metals  are  employed,  such  as  silver  solder,  copper 
or  hard  solder,  and  tin  solder. 


SOLDERING  ALUMINUM. 

Prominent  among  the  peculiar  characteristics  of  aluminum,  as 
compared  with  other  common  metals,  is  its  physical  reluctance  to 
the  acceptance  of  a  fusible  alloy  that  will  satisfactorily  unite  its 
surface  or  margins.  Indeed,  the  lack  of  a  perfect  solder  has  seriously 
retarded  the  development  and  manufacture  of  articles  made  from 
sheet  aluminum  when  their  shape  or  contour  is  to  be  accomplished  by 
the  uniting  of  separate  pieces  in  the  evolution  of  the  finished  product. 

Aluminum  is  unique  among  the  sheet  metals  of  commerce  in  this 
respect,  and  a  casual  consideration  of  its  physical  properties  will  be 
necessary  for  an  understanding  of  this  difficulty.  The  reasons  that 
aluminum  is  a  refractory  metal  to  solder  are  entirely  physical.  It 
is  extremely  difficult  to  expose  a  bare  surface  of  aluminum  to  the 
action  of  a  solder,  although  the  mechanical  difficulties  of  grease  and 
dirt  are  quickly  and  easily  removed,  and  need  not  appear  as  features 
in  the  problem. 

Upon  attempting,  with  any  ordinary  solder,  to  join  sheets  of  the 
metal,  it  is  noticeable  that  the  mixture  does  not  take  hold,  but  tends 
rather  to  run  off,  or  perhaps  it  will  chill,  utterly  refusing  to  tin  the 
sheets,  and  rarely  adhering  to  the  aluminum.  The  reason  of  this 
behavior  is  that  there  is  always  present  a  thin  continuous  coatmg 
of  oxide,  which  effectually  prevents  the  solder  from  getting  to  the 
true  metal  beneath.  This  thin,  almost  invisible  skin  of  alumina,  or 
oxide  of  the  metal,  is  of  instantaneous  formation,  and  the  surface 
of  the  metal  may  be  scraped  or  filed  without  even  temporary  relief 
because  of  the  immediate  renewal  of  the  coating. 

The  use  of  fluxes  and  acids  to  overcome  this  difficulty  have  been 
repeatedly  suggested  without  securing  satisfactory  results,  and  a  new 
theory  tending  toward  the  solution  of  the  problem  must  needs  be 


98  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

approved.  Dr.  Joseph  W.  Richards,  of  Lchigh  University,  Beth- 
lehem, Pa.,  conceived  the  successful  practice  of  overcoming  the 
difficulty  by  incorporating  into  the  composition  of  the  solder  an 
ingredient  that  would  remove  the  oxide  film  during  the  process  of 
soldering,  thereby  preserving  the  surfaces  clean  until  the  union  of 
the  parts  had  been  accomplished.  The  solder  devised  and  patented 
by  Dr.  Richards  carries  in  its  make-up  an  alloyed  flux  of  phosphorous 
in  tin,  the  theoretical  necessity  of  the  simultaneous  action  of  the 
flux  and  the  taking  hold  by  the  solder  being  confirmed  during  many 
years  by  the  satisfactory  results  obtained  in  actual  commercial 
practice. 

The  high  heat  conductivity  of  aluminum  is  another  characteris- 
tic of  this  strange  metal,  and  the  refusal  of  many  solders  to  per- 
form their  expected  duty  is  traceable  to  it.  The  aluminum  quickly 
and  readily  absorbs  the  heat  from  the  soldering  iron,  and  the  tem- 
perature of  the  tool  is  thus  so  far  reduced  that  the  solder  " freezes" 
at  the  joint  and  failure  ensues.  To  overcome  this  difficulty,  which 
arises  in  large  work  particularly,  it  is  necessary  to  keep  the  solder- 
ing iron  very  hot,  and  oftentimes  it  tends  to  the  betterment  of  the 
result  to  apply  heat  likewise  to  the  parts  to  be  joined. 

Aluminum  is  a  highly  electro-negative  metal,  and  it  is  this 
property  that,  in  addition  to  causing  the  instantaneous  formation 
of  the  thin  skin  of  oxide  already  mentioned,  tends  to  operate  in 
another  way,  quite  as  disastrously,  by  setting  up  a  galvanic  action  at 
the  joint,  between  the  solder  and  the  aluminum,  inducing  failure 
through  rapid  disintegration.  Therefore,  in  devising  a  solder,  it  is 
plain  that  it  should  be  composed  of  those  metals  nearest  to  alum- 
inum in  the  galvanic  series  in  order  to  reduce  this  disintegrating 
action  to  a  minimum.  Accordingly  zinc  suggests  itself  as  an  excel- 
lent base. 

Almost  any  one  can  solder  aluminum  by  such  simple  means  as 
using  pure  zinc  or  pure  tin,  or  both  in  combination,  and  joints  of 
accuracy  and  strength  have  been  thus  obtained.  Upon  these  results, 
which  are  at  best  but  temporary,  yielding  soon  to  the  disintegrating 
influences  above  noted,  have  rested  the  reputations  of  many  of  the 
so-called  aluminum  solders  of  commerce. 

It  is  not  the  purpose  of  these  remarks  to  schedule  the  propor- 
tions of  the  various  metals  in  the  many  alloys  offered  on  the  market 
under  the  name  of  solders,  but  rather  to  show,  in  a  general  way, 
the  reasons  of  their  repeated  failures,  and  to  suggest  lines  of  thought 
and  experimental  work  most  likely  to  be  productive  of  sensible  re- 
sults. To  be  a  commercial  success,  anv  solder  must  conform  to  the 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  99 

following-  I equirements :  It  must  take  hold  easily  upon  the  alum- 
inum ;  it  must  he  conveniently  handled  without  complicating1  tools 
or  sundry  fluxes:  it  should  melt  readily;  it  must  be  strong,  malleable 
and  tough  ;  it  must  not  combine  elements  inviting  disintegration ; 
it  should  he  of  the  same  color  as  aluminum  and  it  should  not  tarnish 
with  age.  To  all  of  these  conditions,  Joseph  Allison  Steinmetz 
says.  Dr.  Joseph  Richards'  sclder  conforms. 

W.  C.  Heraeus'  Process  for  Welding  Aluminum. — Mr.  Heraeus 
has  platinum  works  at  Hanau,  Germany.  Agent  in  U.  S.,  Mr. 
Charles  Englehard,  41  Courtlandt  St.,  New  York  City.  It  is  claimed 
for  the  Heraeus  process  of  welding  aluminum,  that  the  seams  are 
united  so  intimately  that  they  disappear  and  can  he  further  shaped 
by  hammering.  Soldering  aluminum.,  apart  from  all  other  diffi- 
culties, has  the  disadvantage  that  its  powers  of  resistance  at  the 
soldered  places  is  weakened  against  the  influences  of  the  atmosphere 
and  these  of  a  chemical  nature.  This  disadvantage  is  obviated  when 
the  metal  is  welded.  The  process  is  applicable  to  sheet,  wire,  thick 
plates  and  heavy  bars.  Aluminum  cannot  be  used  where  it  would 
come  in  contact  with  alkaline  substances  that  attack  it.  In  the  re- 
sistance it  offers  to  acids  it  resembles  copper.  Sulphuric  acid  has 
hut  little  effect  en  aluminum.  When  copper  is  exposed  to  air  and 
moisture,  poisonous  vercligis  will  form,  which  is  not  the  case  with 
aluminum.  Repairs  by  the  Heraeus  welding  process  can  be  easily 
done,  Certain  waters  and  acids  corrode  aluminum,  but  the  metal  dis- 
places copper  when  it  comes  in  contact  with  neutral  substances,  as 
spirits,  sugar  solutions,  ether,  glycerine,  stearine,  wax,  beer,  etc. 

Richards'  Hardened  Aluminum. — The  Delaware  Metal  Refinery 
of  Philadelphia  ( i8th  St.  and  Washington  Ave.)  are  selling  con- 
siderable quantities  of  hardened  aluminum  alloys,  made  after  the 
formulas  and  under  the  direction  of  the  superintendent,  Mr.  Joseph 
Richards. 

The  principal  constituents  of  these  alloys  are  aluminum  and  zinc, 
in  varying-  proportions,  made  from  the  purest  metals,  very  thoroughly 
alloyed  and  carefully  cast.  The  idea  which  Mr.  Richards  had  in  view 
in  producing  them,  is  to  provide  a  series  of  perfectly  reliable  and  uni- 
form alloys,  from  a  very  hard  rather  brittle  alloy,  to  a  strong,  tough 
softer  alloy,  thus  forming  a  complete  series  adaptable  for  the  most 
varied  applications.  These  alloys  all  approximate  toward  aluminum 
itself  in  weight,  and  duplicate  the  alloys  from  soft  brass  to  the  hard- 
est of  the  regular  bronzes  in  strength  and  toughness. 


IOO 


HISTORY    OF    TIM-:     MH.ITAKY    CA.VTKFX. 


lniitted  ty  tie  £<*** 


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,  Cfticayoja^  Capacity  /o  K. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN  IOI 

Nine  grades  of  alloys  are  made,  numbered  respectively  i,  2,  3, 
4,  5,  6,  7.  8  and  9. 

Xo.  i  is  the  hardest.  It  looks  like  polished  steel,  takes  a  brilliant 
polish  and  has  a  hard  surface.  It  can  scarcely  be  cut  by  a  knife. 
It  is  almost  as  rigid  as  steel,  and  machines  like  a  fine  quality  me- 
dium hard  steel  Its  specific  gravity  is  4,  or  just  half  that  of  brass 
or  bronze.  It  is  the  cheapest  of  the  alloys,  costing  less  than  pure 
aluminum,  and  objects  made  of  it  cost  considerably  less  than  if  made 
of  brass  or  bronze. 

No.  4  is  a  milder  alloy  and  probably  the  one  of  the  series  having 
the  maximum  of  working  strength. 

ALrMINUM  UTENSILS. 

.Aluminum  utensils  are  claimed  by  manufacturers  to  be  the  only 
ware  that  is  unobjectionable  in  c-rcr\  respect. 

.  Irscnic  and  Lead  in  Enameled  II' are. — Joseph  Stanton  has  ex- 
amined in  the  laboratory  of  the  Massachusetts  College  of  Pharmacy, 
the  iron  enamel  covered  utensils  so  much  used  in  the  kitchen.  On 
the  Boston  market  were  found  thirteen  distinct  brands  of  this  ware. 
These,  when  tested,  gave  the  following  results :  Eleven  contained 
arsenic,  two  contained  lead,  and  two  were  free  from  both  arsenic 
and  lead.  The  two  that  contained  lead  also  contained  arsenic.  The 
approximate  amounts  of  arsenic,  as  indicated  by  comparison  of  the 
irirmrs,  obtained  with  mirrors  made  from  known  quantities  of 
metallic  arsenic,  varied  from  1.3200  to  1.500  of  a  grain  in  each  two 
grams  of  enamel.  Professor  Baird  in  making  this  report  (at  the 
last  meeting  of  the  Massachusetts  Pharmaceutical  Association)  said: 
"In  this  connection  it  would  be  interesting  to  know  whether  the 
arsenic  and  lead  are  in  such  combinations  as  to  allow  their  solubility 
in  the  fluids  which  come  in  contact  with  them  in  ordinary  cooking.  As 
the  enamels  seemed  to  be  quite  easily  disintegrated  by  the  mineral 
acids,  it  is  quite  probable  that  from  them  these  poisonous  metals  would 
be  found  to  dissolve  in  dilute  fruit  acids  and  dilute  alkaline  solutions, 
and  that  in  this  manner  they  may  become  a  source  of  arsenic  and 
load  contamination."  It  was  also  said  in  this  report:  "In  former 
years  arsenic  and  lead  were  both  very  common  ingredients  of 
enameled  wares,  especially  the  latter  metal.  In  fact,  compounds  of 
lead  were  used  to  such  an  extent  that  the  lead  could  be  extracted 
by  boiling  with  dilute  fruit  acids,  and  lead  poisoning  from  this 
source  became  so  frequent  that  certain  countries  made  hws  restrict- 


1O2  HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

ing  the  sale  of  enameled  wares  containing  lead  in  soluble  form." — 
"Druggists  Circular  and  Chemical  Gazette." 

The  "Review  of  Reviews"  says :  "Probably  the  most  important 
use  to  which  aluminum  will  be  put,  at  least  in  the  immediate  future, 
will  be  for  culinary  and  household  utensils.  Besides  being  very 
light,  and  hence  far  less  cumbersome  than  any  other  metal  of  equal 
strength  and  durability  used  in  cooking,  aluminum  is  practically 
incorrodible.  Professor  Jamieson  asserts  that,  no  food  now  known 
to  man  can  effect  this  metal  in  the  slightest  degree.  It  is  wholly 
free  from  every  form  of  poison  and  w;7/  not  taint  food.  These 
are  qualities  that  are  possessed  by  neither  iron,  copper,  tin,  nor  lead. 
Furthermore,  it  is  a  better  conductor  of  heat  than  either  of  the  other 
metals." 

"The  poisonous  substances  in  the  enamels  are  said  to  be  arsenic, 
antimony,  and  lead.  Neither  of  these  is  nutritious,  and  food  is 
better  without  them.  It  may  be  that  some  of  the  slight  and  unac- 
countable illnesses  that  have  come  to  people  especially  after  eating 
sour  fruits  and  vegetables  boiled  or  stewed  in  these  dishes — toma- 
toes, rhubarb,  strawberries,  compounds  flavored  with  lemon — have 
their  origin  in  disintegration  of  this  enamel  and  in  the  absorption 
by  the  food  of  the  arsenic  or  whatsoever  else  is  employed  in  it. 
Even  where  the  enamel  is  commonly  applied  with  skill  and  under- 
standing it  may  happen  that  a  workman  may  spill  an  undue  quantity 
of  poison  into  the  mixture,  or  that  the  fusing  may  b?  imperfect; 
and  it  does  not  take  much  arsenic  or  lead  to  cause  illness,  while 
a  succession  of  poisonings  may  result  in  lifelong  stomach  trouble. "- 
"Brooklyn  Eagle"  Editorial. 

Enameled  canteens  were  purchased  by  the  United  States  from 
the  Dubuque  Enameling  Co.,  in  December,  1898,  also  in  October, 
1898,  likewise  in  January.  1900.  (For  description  of  the  Dubuque 
Enameling  Co.  canteen  see  page  9  of  this  monograph).  They  were 
issued  for  trial.  No  reports  of  results  of  trial,  if  made,  have  since 
reached  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal.  The  canteens  made  in  October, 
1898,  at  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal  had  a  special  wide  mouth  to 
admit  certain  filters  purchased  from  Mrs.  Caroline  Parker.  (Sec 
page  8,  this  report,  under  subhead  "The  Parker  Canteen.")  In 
August,  1900,  some  more  filters  were  purchased  from  Mrs.  Parker 
and  from  the  Dubuqne  Enameling  Co.  a  special  canteen  for  them. 
These,  too,  were  issued  for  trial. 

The  Dubuque  Enameled  Canteen  Co.  is  profiting  by  the  facts 
advanced  by  the  parties  who  recommend  the  Lanz  method  in  this 
notable  respect,  viz ;  They  put  Petersham  felt  on  what  was,  at 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  IO3 

first,  a  naked  flask,  and  they  not  only  place  two  pieces  next  the 
flask,  but  they  have  added  an  extra  piece  of  felt,  forty-two  inches 
long  by  one  inch  wide,  as  an  inner  band,  thus  increasing  the  ab- 
sorptive powers  over  those  possessed  by  the  regulation  canteen. 

This  adoption  of  the  method  and  system  whereof  Mr.  Lanz 
is  the  originator,  exponent,  advocate,  and  patentee,  is  an  admission 
of  much  significance  and  highly  complimentary  tc  Mr.  Lanz.  That 
the  Ordnance  Department  and  Board  of  Fortification  and  Equip- 
ment concur  is  evinced  by  the  fact  that  so  many  of  the  enameled 
canteens  have  been  purchased  by  the  United  States. 

As  the  enamel  canteen  with  regulation  cover  is  heavier  than  the 
regulation  canteen ;  further,  as  any  enameled  ware  having  arsenic, 
lead,  or  antimony  in  its  composition  is  dangerous  to  health ;  still 
further,  as  the  enamel  will  chip  off  and  the  iron  part  rust;  there 
do  not  appear  to  be  any  points  of  advantage  favoring  the  further 
trial  of  the  Dubuque,  Iowa,  Stamping  &  Enamel  Co.  Canteen,  with 
a  view  to  its  adoption  for  use  in  the  military  service  of  the  United 
States. 


Aluminum  Coated  Sheet  Steel. — The  Aluminum  Coated  Sheet 
Steel  Company,  Connelisville,  Fayette  Co.,  Pa.,  claims  that  "this 
product  is  superior  in  all  respects  to  galvanized.  That  it  contains 
all  of  its  merits  with  none  of  its  defects.  That  it  can  be  heated  to 
a  red  heat  without  destroying  its  coating.  That  sulphurous  gases, 
brine,  salt,  and  acids  do  not  affect  it  as  readily  as  they  do  galvanized. 
That  it  can  be  soldered  with  common  solder.  That  it  will  stand 
even  severer  tests  than  any  coated  metal.  That  no  coated  metal 
can  be  seamed  or  hammered  down  flat  and  then  bent  back  straight 
without  flaking.  None  but  solid  metal  will  do  this. 

That,  Aluminum  Coated  Steel  Sheets  can  be  bent  or  seamed 
in  any  way  required  in  actual  work  and  the  coating  will  remain 
intact  on  both  sides.  But  no  coated  metal  can  be  bent  flat  on  itself 
and  return  to'  its  original  shape  without  showing  fracture  in 
coating.  This  is  not  necessary  and  if  Aluminum  Coated  Sheets  are 
given  the  same  work  as  galvanized  they  will  prove  in  every  way 
superior  and  all  we  claim  for  them. 

That  any  intelligent  metal  worker  will  recognize  these  facts 
and  will  not  expect  impossibilities." 

This  firm  gives  the  following  directions  for  flux  to  solder  this 
metal :  "Dissolve  as  much  spelter  as  your  muriatic  acid  will  take 
up.  Use  the  same  without  diluting  with  water.  Never  add  fresh 


1O4  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAVIEEX. 

acid  to  blacken  your  metal.     Other  fluxes,  such  as  rosin,  and  palm 
oil,  mav  be  used  with  success." 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  a  communication  addressed  to  the 
Patton  Paint  Company,  Milwaukee,  Wis. : 

It  may  be  an  advance  backward  to  construct  a  soldier's  canteen 
of  wood. 

I  enclose  cut  of  a  canteen  carried  by  the  U.  S.  Army  during  the 
period  of  our  second  war  with  England,  1812,  by  reference  to  which 
you  will  see  that  it  was  then  composed  of  many  pieces,  like  a  barrel, 
tub,  firkin,  fig  drum,  etc. 

Could  you  not  get  one  constructed  of  suitable  wood  or  indurated 
fiber  or  wood  pulp,  turned  in  one  piece,  painted  by  your  process 
inside  and  out? 

The  normal  use  of  the  canteen  is  to  carry  water,  coffee  and 
tea.  Government  does  not  contemplate  furnishing  the  soldier  \vith 
a  water  bottle,  the  lining  of  which  should  be  capable  of  resisting  the 
action  of  whisky  or  other  alcoholic  fluid. 

A  wooden  water  bottle  was  carried  for  years  in  the  English 
Army,  the  exterior  of  which  was  painted  blue ;  but  before  I  should 
feel  justified  in  recommending  a  return  to  a  canteen  made  of  wood 
instead  of  sheet  tin,  I  would  have  to  be  satisfied  that  one  con- 
structed of  this  material  would  meet  the  requirements  of  dura- 
bility, etc. 

I  would  be  glad  to  have  you  institute  a  series  of  experiments 
whereof  you  write,  looking  toward  covering  both  the  inside  and  the 
outside  of  the  flask  in  such  a  way  that  it  would  resist  the  action  of 
everything  including  distinctly  acid  fluids. 

Whatever  canteen  is  adopted  for  the  use  of  our  soldiers  will 
have  to  be  provided  with  a  non-conducting  cover. 

To  the  above  the  Company  replies  as  follows : 

"We  thank  you  for  the  blueprint  received  with  your  letter,  and 
hope  soon  to  begin  our  experiments  as  to  covering  inside  and  out- 
side in  such  a  way  that  the  covering  will  be  impervious  to  the 
action  of  everything  except  fluids  which  are  distinctly  acid  or 
alkaline. 

"It  is  easy  enough  to  begin  a  series  of  experiments,  but  it  takes 
a  long  time  to  complete  them.  We  would  not  he  satisfied  to  report 
on  anything  in  the  way  of  a  test  of  permanency  under  six  months  or 
a  year  of  constant  use  for  the  purpose  required,  as  we  carry  on  our 
experiments. 

'"We  will  let  you  know  from  time  to  time  how  we  are  progressing 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


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IO6  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

and  will  hope  to  be  in  a  position  to  make  a  definite  statement  as  to 
what  we  can  do  within  perhaps  eight  months  from  this  time." 


Disadvantages  of  Aluminum  as  a  Material  for  Canteen  Flasks,  from 
a  Mechanical  Point  of  View. 

After  a  metallurgist  has  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  inventor  a 
metal  lighter  than  tin  as  a  material  for  a  canteen  flask,  the  artisan 
encounters  a  mechanical  difficulty,  to  wit :  In  attaching  ears,  or  side 
pieces,  to  the  flask. 

There  must  be  something  connected  either  with  the  flask,  or  its 
cover,  to  fasten  the  canteen  strap  or  sling  to — unless  the  latter  goes 
round  the  canteen  as  in  the  1864  period  of  the  U.  S.  A. 

There  are  two  natural  ways  of  slinging  a  canteen ;  one  way  is 
from  the  shoulder,  the  other  way  is  from  the  belt. 

In  either  case,  the  strap  must  have  a  method  of  attachment,  as 
by  a  hook  or  snap,  with  the  canteen  flask  or  with  some  portion  of 
the  canteen  cover;  otherwise  the  strap  must  encircle  the  canteen. 

This  attachment  necessitates  loops,  rings  or  triangles,  eyes,  open- 
ings, etc.,  on  the  canteen  cover,  or  ears,  metallic  side-bar  attach- 
ments, or  other  fastening  device,  directly  connected  with  the  canteen 
flask ;  hence  attached  to  the  latter  by  solder  cr  rivet. 

A  disadvantage  of  aluminum  as  the  material  for  a  canteen  flask 
is  that  with  the  present  limited  knowledge  of  this  metal,  it  cannot 
be  so  soldered  to  itself  as  to  resist  water  action.  Galvanic  action 
occurs  between  aluminum  and  any  known  solder  when  wet  for  a 
considerable  period.  Disintegration  follows. 

This  should  prevent  the  adoption  by  any  army  of  an  aluminum 
canteen  flask  any  of  the  parts  of  which  are  joined  by  soldering. 

As  solder  fails  to  assure  a  permanent  union  of  aluminum  to 
aluminum,  rivets  are  resorted  to  in  order  to  fasten  the  side-ears,  cr 
other  metallic  contrivance,  to  the  aluminum  flask.  This  is  practical, 
but  not  believed  to  be  enduring.  Leakage  follows.  A  method  of 
reliably  fastening  ears  to  an  aluminum  flask  is  unknown  to  me. 

Tin  as  a  material  for  a  canteen  flask  does  not  present  any  of 
these  disadvantages. 


Reason  Why  Old  Pattern  Canteens  Have  Been  Retained  in 
U.  S.  Army  Since  1874  or  1878. — Past  attempts  to  improve,  change 
or  retire  the  army  canteen  have  been  blocked  by  two  things,  viz.: 
The  representation  by  a  Department  head  that  there  were  already 
i -n  hand  a  large  stock  of  old  canteens ;  hence  these  unissued  relics 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  IO7 

of  a  past  period  ought,  in  economic  interests,  to  be  disposed  of 
first. 

Second :  The  recommendation  of  the  Commanding  General  that 
the  old  stock  be  disposed  of  before  incurring  the  expense  of  a  new,  or 
later,  pattern. 

Finally :  The  orders  of  the  Secretary  of  War  directing  that 
future  issues  of  canteens  be  confined  to  existing  patterns  in  stock, 
and  prohibiting  any  expenditures  for  new  patterns.  This  injunction 
applying  also  to  other  Infantry  and  Cavalry  equipments. 

Efforts  Made  in  1878-9  to  Change  the  U.  S.  Service  Canteen. — 
In  General  Orders  No.  76,  Headquarters  of  the  Army,  A.  G.  O., 
July  23,  1879,  there  were  published  extracts  from  the  proceedings, 
embodying  the  conclusions,  of  the  Board  of  Officers  convened  in 
Washington,  D.  C,  by  Special  Orders  on  Nov.  n,  1878,  "for  the 
purpose  of  considering  the  whole  subject  of  *  the  equip- 

ment of  troops  generally'' ;  together  with  the  comments  of  the 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  the  General  of  the  Army,  William  T.  Sherman, 
and  the  indorsement  of  the  Secretary  thereon. 

The  Board  found  the  weight  of  the  canteen,  half-filled,  to  be 
two  (2)  pounds  eight  (8)  ounces. 

The  recommendations  of  the  Board  were  disapproved  by  the 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  there  being  then  on  hand,  left  from  the  Civil 
War,  267,000  canteens  which,  in  the  opinion  of  General  Benet, 
ought  to  be  used  up  before  others  were  provided. 

The  recommendation  of  the  General  of  the  Army  was :  28  "That 
no  other  change  be  made  in  the  present  infantry  equipment,  though 
a  lighter  canteen  would  be  desirable.''  General  Sherman  commented 
(see  page  40,  G.  O.  76,  A.  G.  O.,  series  1879)  :  "The  old  pattern 
articles,  that  is  canteens  and  such,  can  be  issued  till  exhausted,  and 
the  new  ones  will  then  follow  naturally  and  without  sacrifice  on 
the  part  of  the  United  States,  or  of  the  officers  and  men  who  com- 
pose the  army." 

The  views  and  recommendations  of  the  General  of  the  Army  were 
approved  July  19,  1879,  by  the  Hon.  G.  W.  McCrary,  Secretary  of 
War,  who  indorsed  the  recommendations  made  by  the  Board,  the 
Chief  of  Ordnance,  the  Quartermaster  General  of  the  Army,  and 
General  William  T.  Sherman,  as  follows:  "No  change  will  be 
made  at  any  time  which  involves  expenditure  not  clearly  within 
existing  appropriations,  and  great  care  will  be  taken  to  avoid  a 
deficiency." 

On  Oct.  7,   1873,  the  Chief  of  Ordnance,  U.  S.  A.,  Brigadier- 


1O8  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

General  A.  B.  Dyer,  recommended  that  a  Board  of  Ordnance  and 
Cavalry  Officers  be  assembled  to  consider  "What  changes,"  if  any, 
should  be  made  in  *  cavalry  equipments  and  accouter- 

ments,  as  published  by  G.  O.  No.  60,  War  Department,  A.  G.  O., 
June  29,  1872. 

Board  was  convened  by  Special  Orders  Xo.  238,  Nov.  29,  1873, 
modified  by  Special  Orders  No.  253,  \Var  Dept.,  A.  G.  O., 
Dec.  24,  1873.  Report  of  proceedings  made  from  Water- 
vliet  Arsenal,  West  Troy,  N.  Y.,  May  5,  1874,  by  Colonel  I.  X. 
Palmer,  2d  Cavalry,  president  of  the  Board.  The  Board  consisted 
of  the  following:  Col.  Innis  N.  Palmer,  2d  Cavalry;  Capt.  J.  J. 
Upham,  6th  Cavalry;  Capt.  A.  Mordecai,  Ord.  Dept.;  Capt.  Guy  V. 
Henry,  3d  Cavalry,  and  Capt.  L.  H.  Carpenter,  loth  Cavalry ;  also 
Capt.  William  Hawley,  3d  Cavalry,  in  place  of  Major  Henry,  re- 
lieved. 

The  proceedings  of  the  Board,  with  the  action  of  the  War  De- 
partment thereon,  were  published  in  Ordnance  Memoranda  No.  18, 
1874.  Under  the  caption  "Canteens,"  page  18,  is  found  the  follow- 
ing: "Canteen.  It  was  discussed  as  to  whether  the  canteen  should 
be  covered  with  two  thicknesses,  and  felt  was  suggested  as  a  good 
material."  No  other  reference  by  title,  to  canteen  is  found  in  the 
published  report,  except,  same  page,  the  following :  "A  resolution 
was  adopted  requesting  the  commanding  officer  cf  the  Leaven  worth 
Arsenal  to  make  for  the  use  of  the  Board  the  following  articles 
after  description  furnished :  *  *  One  canteen  with  two  cov- 

erings." And,  on  page  57,  the  following:  "The  Board  is  of  the 
opinion  that  to  the  accouterments  should  be  added  a  canteen  of 
pattern  and  material  like  sample  submitted."  On  page  18  Board 
expresses  opinion  that  the  regular  equipments  necessary  for  a  cav- 
alry trooper  are  as  follows :  *  *  *  One  canteen  On 
page  69,  it  is  stated  that  "A  personal  examination  has  convinced  the 
Board  of  the  superior  quality  of  the  manufacture  and  material  of 
the  articles  furnished  from  the  government  workshops  over  those 
obtained  by  contract,  and  it  is  earnestly  recommended  that,  as  far 
as  possible,  all  stores  issued  to  the  cavalry  by  the  Ordnance  Depart- 
ment may  be  made  in  the  Arsenals,  believing  that  to  be  for  the  best 
interests  of  the  service." 

On  May  n,  1874,  the  Acting  Chief  of  Ordnance,  Col.  S.  V. 
Benet,  indorsed  proceedings,  concurring  in  recommendations  of  the 
Board,  but  in  carrying  out  the  changes,  alterations,  and  additions 
recommended,  suggested  "that  the  large  quantity  of  stores  on  hand 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  ICKJ 

of  old  patterns  be  utilized  and  the  changes,  etc.,  be  made  as  rapidly 
as  a  due  regard  to  economy  will  permit/' 

On  May  15,  1874,  Gen.  W.  T.  Sherman  indorsed  that  he  "felt 
hardly  competent  to  pass  judgment  on  the  matter  of  cavalry  equip- 
ment, and  would  be  governed  by  the  opinions  of  the  cavalry  officers 
who  serve  on  the  plains  and  have  abundant  experience.  The  present 
stock  on  hand  could  be  exhausted  gradually,  leaving  the  new  equip- 
ment to  accumulate  in  store,  ready  for  emergency,  or  for  use  after 
the  present  supply  is  exhausted." 

On  May  20,  1874,  the  Secretary  of  War,  through  H.  T.  Crosby, 
chief  clerk,  concurred  with  the  General  of  the  Army  and  the  Chief 
of  Ordnance  that  the  stores  on  hand  of  all  patterns  should  be 
utilized  before  issue  of  new  patterns  except  in  regard  to  horse 
shoes." 


The  Chief  of  Ordnance,  U.  S.  Army,  in  his  annual  report  for  the 
fiscal  year  ended  June  30,  1894,  states  under  head  of  "Aluminum 
Equipments"  :  "Experiments  with  articles  of  equipment  made  of 
aluminum  and  its  alloys  have  been  continued  during  the  year  at 
various  posts  and  at  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal,  and  very  intelligent 
assistance  has  been  given  to  the  department  by  manufacturers. 
Successful  results  have  been  obtained  in  the  manufacture  of  spurs, 
waist-belt  plates,  and  several  minor  articles ;  but  in  those  cases  in 
which,  from  their  importance  as  articles  of  considerable  weight, 
success  was  hoped  for  most — such  as  bits,  cups,  meat  cans,  picket 
pins  and  horseshoes — the  desired  quality  of  metal  has  not  yet  been 
obtained.  A  very  promising  canteen  has  been  designed,  but  not 
yet  tested  by  the  department,  and  experiments  will  be  continued  as 
rapidly  as  possible." 


Recommendation  That  Canteens  Now  Disposable  Be  Sold. — 
Citation  of  Statute  Permitting  It. — Recommendation  is  made,  under 
opinion  of  Assistant  Comptroller  Mitchell,  and  Section  1241  of  the 
Revised  Statutes,  that  all  canteens  not  in  the  hands  of  troops  be  sold 
as  unsuitable  for  the  public  service. 

One  of  the  synonyms  of  "suitable"  is  "expedient."  An  article 
may  be  suitable  as  far  as  possibility  is  concerned,  and  not  suitable 
because  it  is  not  expedient  to  transport  it  to  the  place  where  it 
might  be  used,  or  to  the  person  who  could  use  it. 

It  is  thought  that  the  present  stock  of  old  pattern  canteens  are 
not  suitable  for  militarv  service.  It  is  neither  wise  nor  economical 


I  IO 


HISTORY    OI;    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


tc  Canteen  F/cts/e  .  <?ne  face  concave,  c/y/j 
face    com/eK  .•    SubrHitteol  &     the  £.arrz  Canteen  Co., 


Ill 

to  retain  them  in  government  arsenals,  armories  or  depots.  They 
should  he  sold.  It  is  submitted  that  these  acts  justify  this  disposi- 
tion of  these  obsolete  articles  of  equipment.  They  are  important 
as  bearing  upon  the  Assistant  Comptroller's  view  : 

The  first  is  the  old  law  of  March  23,  1825,  upon  which  section 
1241,  Revised  Statutes  is  based,  and  which  is  as  follows:  "That  the 
President  be,  and  he  is  hereby,  authorized  to  cause  to  be  sold  any 
ordnance,  ammunition,  or  other  military  stores,  or  subsistence,  or 
medical  supplies,  which  upon  proper  inspection  or  survey,  whenever 
in  his  opinion  the  sale  of  such  unserviceable  stores  will  be  advan- 
tageous to  the  public  service;  that  the  inspection  or  survey  of  the 
unserviceable  stores  shall  be  made  by  an  inspector  general  or  such 
other  officer  or  officers  as  the  secretary  of  war  may  appoint  for  that 
purpose  and  the  sales  shall  be  made  under  such  rules  and  regulations 
as  may  be  prescribed  by  the  secretary  of  war." 

The  other  act  is  that  of  March  29,  1894,  which  provides  that  in- 
stead of  forwarding  to  the  accounting  officers  of  the  Treasury  De- 
partment returns  of  public  property  intrusted  to  the  possession  of 
officers  or  agents,  "the  quartermaster  general,  commanding  general 
of  subsistence,  and  other  like  staff  officers  in  any  department,  by, 
through,  or  under  whom  stores,  supplies  and  other  public  property 
are  received  for  distribution,  or  whose  duty  it  is  to  receive  or  ex- 
amine returns  of  such  property,  shall  certify  to  the  proper  account- 
ing officer  of  the  Treasury  Department  for  debiting  on  the  proper 
account  any  charge  against  any  officer  or  agent  intrusted  with  public 
property  arising  from  any  loss,  accruing  by  his  fault  to  the  govern- 
ment as  to  the  property  so  intrusted  to  him." 

The  act  of  July  31,  1894,  confines  the  duty  of  the  comptroller 
to  decisions  "upon  any  question  involving  a  payment"  made  by 
disbursing  officers. 

If  Assistant  Comptroller  Mitchell's  ruling  is  published  officially 
it  will  make  possible  an  arrangement  wrhereby  not  only  unservicea- 
ble canteens  in  excess  of  future  needs  of  the  army,  but  also  horses, 
mules,  wagons,  or  other  army  material,  not  first  class,  hardly  worth 
reshipping,  can  be  sold  as  damaged  or  unsuitable  for  the  public 
service,  after  proper  inspection  or  survey,  and  when  the  sale  of  such 
will  be  advantageous  to  the  public  interests. 

It  is  submitted  that  the  sale  of  all  canteens  now  in  store  in  gov- 
ernment arsenals,  armories  or  depots,  of  the  1874  pattern,  or  1878 
or  later  pattern,  will  be  advantageous  to  the  public  service  because 
the  presumption  is  that  the  appropriation  for  the  purchase  and  man- 


112  HISTORY    OF    THK    MILITARY    CAXTEEN. 

iifacture  or  fabrication,  of  equipments  for  infantry,  and  accuuter- 
nients  for  cavalry,  will  be  adequate  to  provide  new  model  canteens. 

It  is  understood  that  the  army  appropriation  bill,  second  series, 
56th  Congress,  carries  with  it  for  repairing  and  preserving  ordnance, 
$75,000;  for  purchase  and  manufacture,  to  fill  requisitions  of  troops, 
$500,000;  for  infantry,  cavalry,  and  artillery  equipments,  $750,000. 

The  Chief  of  Ordnance,  U.  S.  Army,  is  quoted  as  follows :  "The 
ordnance  depot  at  Manila  is  now  supplying  an  army  of  nearly  70,000 
men,  scattered  about  among  the  islands,  and  yet  there  is  but  one 
officer  available  for  duty  at  this  post  in  addition  to  the  chief  ordnance 
officer  whose  time  is  fully  occupied  with  the  duties  of  general  admin- 
istration. 

The  improvement  of  material  being  under  way  at  all  times, 
technical  officers  must  at  all  times  be  in  touch  with  it,  not  only  in 
the  hands  of  troops,  but  also  with  the  vast  accumulations  in  reserve. 
The  relations  of  the  department  to  the  line  of  the  army  should  be 
close  and  intimate  in  order  that  the  experience  of  the  troops  shall 
lie  available  for  the  instruction  and  guidance  of  the  department, 
and  that  the  wants  of  the  combatant  branch  cf  the  army  may  be 
promptly  met  by  the  supply  departments. 

It  has  been  impossible  of  late  years  to  spare  officers  for  this  duty, 
the  lack  of  which  brings  wrongfully  on  the  department  the  blame  of 
responsibility  for  it. 

The  ordnance  establishments  are  by  no  means  adequate  to  pro- 
duce all  the  material  required,  and  a  greater  part  of  this  material 
is  procured  under  contract.  In  the  last  two  years,  at  many  of  the 
establishments  from  which  such  material  has  been  secured,  there 
have  been  no  inspectors,  and  several  establishments  have  been  looked 
after  by  one  inspector.  If  the  inspection  be  not  thorough,  inferior 
material  is  likely  to  come  into  the  service,  with  the  resulting  criti- 
cism of  the  Ordnance  Department,  and  what  is  worse,  a  possible 
failure  of  the  material  at  an  important  juncture." 


HISTORY    UF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


Proceedings  of  Board  of  Officers  to   Examine  and  Test  Canteens, 
at  Rock  Island,  (111.)  Arsenal,  Aug.  22  to  Sept.  15,  1900. 


Between  August  22  and  September  5,  1900,  nine  or  ten  tests  of  two  Regulation 
and  two  Lanz  Canteens  were  made  at  Rock  Island  Arsenal  by  a  board  of  three  Officers 
of  the  Ordnance  Department,  pursuant  to  orders  from  the  Chief  of  Ordnance  and  de- 
tail by  the  Commanding  Officer  of  the  Arsenal. 

Exhibit  "A"  of  the  proceedings  of  the  Board  is  as  follows: 


TEMPERATURE    OF 


Air. 

Water  in  Canteen 

Date. 

Manner  of 
making 

Hours 
Exposed. 

Water 
when  put 
in 

at  expiration  of  time. 

Min. 

Max. 

U.S. 

U.  S. 

Lanz 

Lanz 

Experiment. 

Canteen. 

No.   i. 

No.  2. 

No.  3. 

No.  4. 

A.M.     P.M. 

Deg. 

Deg. 

Deg. 

Deg, 

Deg. 

Deg.     Deg. 

Aug. 

22 

Covers  dry  ;  expos'd 
on  window  sill,  in 
sun    

9  to  2 

86 

96 

66 

102 

103 

98       101 

Aug. 

All  except  U.S.  No. 

i 

f%^ 

ihadfeltwet,with 

*J 

canvas  covers  dry. 

U.S.  No.  i  and  felt 

wet.     On  window 

sil,  in  sun  9  to  2 

91^ 

102 

66           88 

88 

90         92 

Aug. 

Same  as  in  previous 

24. 

experiment  except 

^°t 

hung  over  boilers! 
in  boiler  room...      9102.30 

iooy2 

66           84 

84 

85^ 

84 

Aug. 

Same  as  on  Aug.  23 

26 

except  hung  in  sun 

~j 

with    free  circula- 

tion of  air  

9  to  3 

80 

90 

66 

78 

78 

78 

79 

Aug. 

Both  felt  and  canvas 

17 

27 

covers  thoroughly 

*  / 

wet  and  expos'd  as 

on  Aug.  25  

0  to  ; 

78 

84. 

66 

76 

76 

76 

H1A 

Aug. 

Same  as  preceding. 

y  *     *j 

/  ** 

C7ir 

/ 

/  j/z 

T.I 

A  third  U.  S.  can- 

o 

teen  was  hung  up 

dry  and  had  a  tem- 

perature of  96  deg. 
at  end  of  exprmt  .  . 

10  to  3 

81 

92 

75 

80^ 

82 

82^ 

8i# 

Sept  . 

I 

Under   glass,    with 
free  access  of  air.  . 

10  to  2 

8  1 

92 

56(iced) 

103^ 

100 

99l/2 

100 

Sept. 

Under  glass,   same 

4 

as  preceding    ex- 

periment 

IO  to  2 

**  i 

on 

7  A. 

8? 

Q2 

QCl/ 

QO 

Sept  . 

Same  as  preceding 

/  ' 

yy 

/4 

°/ 

y^ 

yj/- 

yvy 

5 

experiment  

10  to  3 

9i 

no 

75 

94 

93^ 

94 

93 

The  Weights  of  Canteens,  their  Contents,  etc.,  were  as  follows: 
U 


Empty  and  cover  dry 

Full  of  water,  cover  dry 

Cover   saturated   with   water, 
Canteen  full 

Weight  of  water  in  Canteen.. 
Weight  of  water  absorbed  by 


S.  No.  i. 

U.  S.  No.  2. 

Lanz  No.  3. 

Lanz  No.  4. 

ozs. 

ozs. 
13i% 

ozs. 

ozs. 

5»rt 

59VV 

64T66 

50{-£ 

S 

65^ 

40f| 

68 

G                      G                    1  G 

W 

114  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CAXTEF.X. 

Two  tests  were  concluded  in  four  hours. 

Two  experiments  occupied  five  hours  each. 

One  test  consumed  five  and  one-half  hours. 

Two  of  the  tests  were  each  of  six  hours'  duration. 

These  tests  do  not  appear  to  have  been  made  in  accordance  with 
the  printed  conditions  upon  which  the  claims  of  the  Lanz  Canteen 
are  based  and  stated  to  be  requisite  in  order  to  demonstrate  those 
claims. 

This  statement  particularly  applies  to  the  length  of  time  claimed 
by  that  Company  as  requisite — in  an  environment  or  temperature 
above  blood  heat — in  which  to  prove  the  merits  of  the  Lanz  Canteen 
and  general  superiority  of  the  device. — See  Claim  IX. 

It  appears  that  the  Board  followed  the  methods  outlined  by  Mr. 
Lanz  in  his  letter  and  circular,  August,  1960,  describing  his  canteen 
and  the  experiments  made  by  the  inventor  with  the  U.  S.  and  his 
own  canteens. 

The  experiments  of  the  Board  were  conducted,  the  commanding 
officer  states,  with  care  and  fairness,  and  he  agreed  with  its  conclu- 
sions. 

Except  in  passing  judgment  on  the  flattened  side  of  the  flask, 
the  opinion  as  to  the  advantage  of  the  removable  cover  and  its  ser- 
viceableness,  the  conclusions  of  the  Ordnance  Board  were  based 
upon  the  results  of  the  nine  or  ten  tests  quoted. 

These  results  differed  materially  from  those  of  the  inventor  of 
the  Lanz  Canteen.  Besides  its  conclusions  upon  those  results,  the 
Board  was  of  the  opinion  that  none  of  the  canteens  had  any  appre- 
ciable advantage  over  the  others  in  the  temperature  of  the  water 
they  contained.  The  Board  found  but  a  slight  difference  in  the 
relative  conductivity  of  the  covers  of  the  canteens;  referred  to  the 
fact  that  the  Lanz  was  heavier,  held  less  water  than  the  Regulation 
Canteen,  and  added  that  for  a  period  of  at  least  six  hours  the  gov- 
ernment canteen  will  keep  water  as  cool  as  the  Lanz  canteen. 
It  sustained,  or  conceded.  Claims  II,  IV.  and  part  of  Claims  I,  III 
and  V,  also  VI ;  also  the  claim,  but  not  the  conclusion,  of  XV,  in  the 
following  finding;  quotation  from  the  proceedings  and  summary 
of  theBoard,  viz. :  "The  cover  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  possesses  greater 
absorptive  powers  than  that  of  the  Government  Canteen,  conse- 
quently it  would  appear  that  this  canteen  would  keep  water  at  a 
lower  temperature  for  a  longer  period  under  similar  conditions  than 
the  Government  Canteen." 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


Li 


cove-rtct  fy  the  German  method,,  sirtf/e  felt 
n'ftt  hanpiny  strctf>  for  Cava/rif.  also  carry  s(m/i 
for  Infantry  -attached  inooscttost.  Canaattf  do 
ot.  froy,  ttzijht  w  ox  Jtftrefu/ttffs. 


Il6  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

CLAIMS  or  THK  L,ANZ  MANUFACTURING  COMPANY  REGARDING 
THE  ' '  LANZ  CANTEEN  . ' ' 

183-9  Lake  Street,  Chicago  111,  August  8th,  /poo. 

1.  That  the  Lanz  Canteen  will  keep  water  cool  at  a  low  tem- 
perature, or  warm  liquids  at  a  high  temperature,  longer  than  any 
other  canteen  of  equal  capacity. 

2.  That  the  drinkable  condition  of  the  liquids  carried  in  the 
Lanz  Canteen  will  continue  for  a  longer  period,  either  in  cold  or 
hot  climates,  than  in  any  other  Canteen  of  equal  capacity. 

3.  That  its  method  of  retarded  evaporation  secures  palatable 
drinking  water  in  either  tropical  or  arctic  regions  for  a  longer  time 
than  the  Regulation  Canteen  now  used  by  the  U.  S.  A. 

4.  That  the  felt  will  remain  moist  for  a  number  of  hours  longer 
than  the  inner  cover  of  felt  used  on  the  Regulation  Canteen ;  hence 
the  water  remains  cool  for  many  hours  longer  in  the  Lanz  Canteen 
than  the  same  amount  of  water  similarly  exposed  to  a  high  tem- 
perature in  the  Regulation  Canteen  or  any  other  Canteen  used  in 
military  service,  or  submitted  for  experimental  trial. 

5.  These  results  are  accomplished,  in  part,  by  a  removable,  open- 
able  canvas  cover,  and,  in  part,  by  means  of  an  inner  cover  of  felt, 
the  latter  being  of  a  quality  and  thickness  superior  to  the  felt  used 
on  the  Regulation  Canteen,  and  by  using  a  greater  quantity  of  felt 
as  an  inner  cover  than  is  used  on  the  Regulation  Canteen.     These 
covers  and  methods  are  explained  and  secured  by  U.  S.  Patent  No. 
655>979>  August  i4th,  1900. 

6.  The  results  are  due  to  the  methods  observed  and  materials 
with  which  the  Lanz  Canteen  is  covered,  the  latter  being  compo- 
nents of  the  Canteen.     The  absorbent  properties  of  the  Lanz  felt 
cover,  and  subsequent  retarded  evaporation,  are  the  agents,  in  hot 
weather,  to  keep  the  contents  of  the  canteen  flask  cool. 

7.  In  cold  weather,  the  non-conducting  properties  of  the  com- 
ponents of  the  Canteen,  the  covers  being  dry,  tend  to  preserve  the 
contents  of  the  flask  from  freezing. 

8.  The  openable  and  removable  cover  possesses  advantages  not 
possessed  by  the  Regulation  Canteen ;  it  is,  with  proper  care,  equal 
to  it  in  durability.     The   shape   of   the  patented   metallic  flask   is 
advantageous  and  is  superior  to  the  Regulation  Canteen,  all  of  which 
entitles  the  Lanz  Canteen  to  practical  trial  by  troops  actually  in  the 
field,  or  in  campaign,  with  a  view  to  its  adoption  by  the  United 
States  for  use  in  the  military  service. 

9.  Particular  stress  is  laid  upon  the  fact  that  the  merits  of  the 
Lanz  Canteen  are  not  made  so  apparent  by  a  short  open-air  expos- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  IT? 

tire  of  five  or  six  hours,  rr  less;  or  by  tests  made  under  temperate, 
or  moderate,  thermometric  conditions — as  by  comparisons  made  after 
an  exposure  of  at  least  eight  (8)  hours  under  thermal  conditions 
ranging  above  blood  heat,  96°  F.,  or  below  the  freezing  point,  32°  F. 

10.  As  a  Canteen  is  always  worn  by  every  combatant  soldier 
when  in  the  field,  or  campaign,  as  an  essential  article  of  personal 
equipment,  but  only  occasionally  worn  when  troops  are  in  garrison, 
it  is  preferred  that  all  tests  of  Canteens  should  be  made  by  officers 
actually  on  duty  with  troops  in  the  field,  or  campaign,  and  not  by 
officers  whose  duties  confine  them  to  arsenal,  or  garrison,  or  depot 
duty. 

11.  In  hot  weather,  that  is,  when  the  open  air  temperature  is 
above  blood  heat,  96°   F.,  the  felt  covering  must  be  saturated,  or 
moistened,  in  order  to  demonstrate  the  merit  of  the  Lanz  method 
as  opposed  to  the  Regulation  method  of  covering  the  metallic  flask. 

12.  As  an  important  distinction  between  the  Lanz  and  the  Regu- 
lation  Canteen   covers   is   the   difference   in   the   material,   and   the 
amount  of  material,   with   which  they  are   covered,   it  is  essential 
that  the  fastenings  of  the  outer  cover  of  the  Lanz  be  drawn  up  tight, 
after  the  Canteen  has  been  immersed,   so  as   to  permit  air   from 
gaining  access,   and   the  process   of  evaporation   thus   retarded   or 
interfered  with. 

13.  Only  in  moderate  weather  and  in  winter  weather  should  the 
felt  be  left  dry.     In  hot  weather  the  felt  must  be  kept  moist.     To 
effect  this  last  named  requisite,  the  canvas  cover  must  be  slipped 
off  entirely,  or  the  lacing  or  fastenings  of  the  canvas  loosened. 

14.  The  facility  with  which  the  Lanz  openable  cover  can  be 
removed  is  a  decided  advantage  over  the  outer  cover  of  the  Regula- 
tion Canteen,  because  the  latter  is  tightly  sewn  up  around  its  entire 
circumference,  hence  the  service  Canteen  may  be  immersed  in  water 
without  properly  effecting  saturation  of  the  inner  cover. 

15.  As  the  inner  cover  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  possesses  greater 
absorptive  powers  than  the  Government  Canteen,  it  will  keep  water 
at  a  lower  temperature  for  a  longer  time  under  similar  circumstances 
than  the  Government  Canteen,  hence  possesses  merits  sufficient  to 
warrant  a  trial  in  the  military  service  with  a  view  to  its  adoption  in 
lieu  of  the  Regulation  Canteen. 

16.  In  cold,  or  cool,  weather,  the  felt,  of  course,  is  not  moist- 
ened, in  which  condition  it  will  maintain  the  heat  of  the  fluid  con- 
tents for  a  longer  period  than  the  Regulation  Canteen,  and  so  lessen 
the  danger  of  freezing. 

17.  The  Lanz  Manufacturing  Company  can  furnish  Canteens 


Il8  HiSTOKV    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

and  their  components  of  any  specified  weight  or  indicated  fluid 
capacity,  whether  less  than,  equal  to,  or  greater  than,  the  Govern- 
ment Canteen,  utilizing  for  the  purpose  any  metal  or  material,  or 
of  any  prescribed  pattern  or  model  desired,  retaining,  of  course,  its 
non-conducting  inner  fabric  or  textile  cover,  and  also  retaining  the 
removable,  openable,  patented  outer  cover  and  fastening  methods. 

18.  The  advantages  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  are  more  than  appre- 
ciated by  soldiers  when  in  the  field  or  during  a  campaign  in  a  tropical 
region,  or  on  a  hot  day,  because  conducive  to  comfort,  effective- 
ness and  health. 

19.  The  Lanz  Manufacturing  Company  claims  to  be  able  to 
produce  a  canteen  flask,  retinned  after  the  plate  has  been  stamped 
into  shape,  and  which  may  have  a  piece  of  zinc  soldered  to  the 
inside,  or,  perhaps,  a  zinc  nozzle,  the  durability  of  which  retinned 
flask  will  largely  exceed  that  of  the  Regulation  Canteen,  and  which 
will  prevent  oxidation  for  at  least  four  times  as  long  as  the  Regu- 
lation Canteen. 

Commendations  and  recommendations  are  exhibited  by  the 
Company  from  the  following  named  Army  officers:  Col.  J.  M.  J. 
Sanno,  i8th  Infantry;  Maj.  P.  H.  Ray,  8th  Infantry;  Maj.  S.  L. 
Woodward,  1st  Cavalry ;  Assistant  Surgeon  A.  E.  Bradley,  Medical 
Dept. ;  Assistant  Surgeon  S.  M.  Waterhouse,  Medical  Dept. ;  Capt. 
Geo.  W.  Goode,  ist  Cavalry;  ist  Lieut.  W.  M.  Whitman,  ist  Cav- 
alry; 2d  Lieut.  H.  C.  Smither,  ist  Cavalry;  2d  Lieut.  F.  W.  Healy, 
8th  Infantry ;  2d  Lieut.  A.  V.  L.  R.  de  Beaumont,  8th  Infantry ;  2cl 
Lieut  L.  A.  I.  Chapman,  ist  Cavalry;  Ordnance  Sergeant  Alexander 
Pillow,  U.  S.  A. ;  Sergeant  J.  K.  Miller,  3d  Infantry.  Also  from 
several  business  and  manufacturing  firms  employing  laborers,  arti- 
ficers, etc.  Likewise  from  tourists,  bicyclists,  sportsmen,  officers  of 
U.  S.  Volunteers,  National  Guardsmen,  etc. 

The  Company  supplements  its  published  list  of  testimonials  by 
two  temperature  tests,  one  a  hot  weather  test  made  on  the  roof  of 
theLanz  factory ;  the  other  a  cold  weather  open  air  test.  In  each 
trial  a  U.  S.  Army  canteen  is  also  said  to  have  been  used  in  com- 
parison. 

Naturally,  the  results  as  published,  were  highly  favorable  to  the 
Lanz  Canteen.  The  first  test  covered  a  period  of  seven  hours. 


SANITATION  AND  HYGIENE  AS  APPLIED  TO  CANTEENS. 
The  use  of  polluted  water  is  a  factor  dangerous  to  health  and  ac- 
counts for  the  prevalence  of  disease  in  localities  where  other  sanitary 
conditions  are  beyond  reproach.    It  is  the  part  of  wisdom  to  remove 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  I IQ 

r? 

danger  of  possible  contamination  by  the  use  of  a  canteen  which  can 
be  completely  emptied,  drained  and  even  sterilized. 

By  inserting  the  little  finger  in  the  mouth-piece  of  the  present 
regulation  tin  flask  canteen,  there  can  be  felt  enough  abiding  places 
for  pathogenic  germs  and  micro-organisms  to  make  the  use  of  the 
canteen  a  dangerous  factor  after  polluted  water  has  once  entered 
the  flask. 

In  the  regulation  canteen,  the  mouth-piece  is  either  inserted  or 
applied  like  a  spout.  In  either  case,  it  is  a  separate  piece  of  sheet  tin, 
soldered  on.  The  projections  and  rough  edges  become  nesting  places 
for  waste  matter,  and  breeding  places  for  things  dangerous  to 
health,  even  after  pure  or  sterilized  water  has  been  deposited  in  it. 

Soldiers  have  not  access  to  germicidal  supplies,  nor  can  the  in- 
sides  of  canteens  be  inspected  in  the  way  that  health  officers  inspect 
milk  cans,  pans,  dairies,  and  creameries.  The  present  regulation 
canteen  can  carry  typhoid.  As  bacteriological  examinations  cannot 
be  made  of  canteens  where  the  latter  are  daily  carried  as  a  portion  of 
the  field  equipment, — it  would  be  wise  to  abandon  the  present  regu- 
lation canteen  and  adopt  in  lieu  one  differing  in  material,  construc- 
tion and  shape. 


COMPARISON  OF  THE  ARMIES  IN  CHINA — NARRATIVE  BY  AN  AMERI- 
CAN WAR  CORRESPONDENT  ABOUT  CANTEENS,  OTHER 
PERSONAL  EQUIPMENTS  OF  A   SOLDIER, 
AND  ARMY  WATER  SUPPLY. 

The  dweller  in  towns  can  have  no  conception  of  what  the  lack  of 
a  plentiful  supply  of  good  water  is.  Water,  to  them,  like  air,  is 
cheap  and  common.  During  the  interval  between  our  Civil  War  and 
the  Spanish-American  War,  the  only  soldiers  of  our  army  who  ap- 
preciated the  value  of  water,  and  of  a  good  canteen,  were  such  of 
the  military  establishment  as  had  service  in  arid  regions  in  hot 
weather,  and  hence  had  been  compelled  to  rely  upon  the  article  of 
personal  equipment  named. 

Thomas  F.  Millard,  writes  from  China :  "Examine  military  med- 
ical statistics  and  you  will  find  that  half  the  ills  an  army  is  heir  to 
are  directly  traceable  to  the  use  of  bad  water.  I  sometimes  wonder 
whether  we  Americans  shall  ever  learn  some  things,  and  generally 
sadly  reach  the  conclusion  that  we  never  shall.  In  this  problem  of 
army  water  supply,  the  Japanese  stand  for  efficiency — the  Ameri- 
cans for  deficiency,  with  other  nations  struggling  along  somewhere 
between.  The  water  in  North  China  is  so  bad  that  resident  Euro- 


120 


HIST6RY   OF    Till     JkllLITARY    CANTEEN. 

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HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  121 

pcans  will  nut  drink  it  until  it  has  been  boiled  and  lilUTrd.  The  fact 
was  well  known  before  a  foreign  soldier  set  foot  at  Tak'u,  It  was 
also  realized  that  there  was  danger  of  wells  being  poisoned  by  the 
Chinese ;  while  to  use,  unpurified,  the  filth-laden  waters  of  the  canals 
and  rivers  was  to  invite  an  epidemic  among  the  troops.  The  Jap- 
anese came  fully  provided  with  portable  filters  for  use  in  the  field. 
They  were  the  only  troops  who  possessed  these  necessary  utensils, 
and  they  spared  the  men  much.  They  also  had  in  common  with  all 
the  allies,  except  the  Americans,  provisions  for  supplying  the  troops 
with  water  while  on  the  march  or  in  action.  When  the  Fifth  Army 
Corps,  United  States  Army,  made  the  glorious,  but  in  many  ways 
disastrous,  campaign  against  Santiago,  June-August,  1898,  we  paid 
a  price  for  ignorance  which  might  have  taught  ns  a  wholesome  les- 
son. One  of  the  deficiencies,  and  one  commented  on  by  all  the 
foreign  military  attaches  who  accompanied  the  army,  was  the  utter 
lack  of  water  supply  except  the  small  quantity  the  men  could  carry 
in  their  canteens.  There  was  no  reserve.  When  the  water  bottles 
ran  dry  the  men  would  drop  out  of  the  line  of  march  to  replenish 
them.  In  so  profusely  watered  a  country  as  Cuba  that  was  not  diffi- 
cult, owing  to  the  proximity  of  the  Seco,  the  Aguadores,  and  the 
San  Juan.  Water  could  always  be  found  near  by,  or  secured  while 
crossing  a  stream,  but  the  custom  is  always  retarding  of  progress 
and  detrimental  to  discipline.  But  even  where  water  is  most  plenti- 
ful, the  practice  throws  the  door  wide  open  to  the  insidious  disease 
germ.  Here  in  China  where  water  is  fairly  plentiful,  but  marvel- 
ously  filthy,  to  provide  no  reserve  water  supply  for  troops  on  the 
march,  is  to  condemn  all  of  them  to  needless  suffering  and  many  of 
them  to  death.  Two  years  of  almost  constant  campaigning  in  the 
Philippines,  coupled  with  the  experiences  in  Cuba,  have  taught 
Americans  nothing.  Our  troops  turned  up  in  China  with  their  can- 
teens, and  no  more.  I  believe  one  or  two  filters,  suitable  for  camp 
or  barrack  use,  and  too  cumbersome  for  ready  transport,  have  finally 
arrived.  But  they  could  not,  had  they  been  here  in  time,  have  been 
utilized  on  the  march  along  the  sluggish  Pei-ho  to  Peking — the 
mother  of  thousands  of  ditches,  all  equally  filled  with  a  contaminated, 
yellow,  slimy  fluid,  spreading  out  over  the  country  like  a  web  of 
an  immense  water-spider,  licking  up  the  filth  of  countless  villages, 
and  feeding,  or  draining,  as  the  case  may  be,  their  cousins — the  cess- 
pools. The  men  suffered  terribly.  Through  the  middle  of  the  day 
the  heat  was  intense.  Millions,  billions,  trillions,  of  flies,  buzzed  and 
bit.  For  miles  the  road  ran  through  millet  fields.  The  grain  stands 
from  ten  to  twelve  feet  high,  completely  shutting  off  any  breeze 


122  HISTORY    OF    Till:     MILITARY    C. \.\TKK.\. 

which  might  possibly  be  stirring.  At  every  step  the  men  and  animals 
sank  a  foot  into  the  dust,  which,  ground  into  impalpable  powder  by 
the  passage  of  thousands  of  vehicles,  hung  in  a  stifling  cloud  over 
the  line  of  march,  rilling  throats,  eyes,  lungs,  and  nostrils.  The  sun 
struck  a  man  between  the  shoulders  and  burned  them  like  a  red-hot 
plaster.  Rivulets  of  perspiration  trickled  and  dripped,  converting 
faces  into  river  charts  of  China,  half  mud  and  half  water,  and  caus- 
ing eyelids  to  gum  up  and  smart  painfully.  Canteens  were  emptied 
quickly  during  the  six  successive  days  march  after  the  battle  of 
Yang  Tsun  to  Peking,  and,  notwithstanding  positive  orders  to  the 
contrary,  were  refilled  out  of  wells  on  the  putrid  Pei-ho. 

Staggering  along  under  their  blanket-rolls  and  full  marching 
equipment,  what  wonder  that  the  troops  could  march  but  a  short 
distance  without  resting,  and  that  "the  total  of  a  day's  effort  would 
be  but  about  eight  miles.  At  night,  the  mosquitos  relieved  the  flies 
as  agents  of  unrest,  swarming  in  dense  clouds  about  the  camps. 
Within  a  week  after  their  arrival  in  Peking,  over  one-third  of  the 
American  force  was  in  the  hospital.  This  was  about  the  average 
throughout  the  army, — Germans,  Russians  (including  Cossacks), 
British  (including  Australians,  English,  Sikhs,  Ragputs,  Ghurkos, 
and  Chinese),  Americans,  French  (including  Tonquin  and  Cochin 
China  native  regiments),  Japanese,  Austrians,  and  Italians,  to  say 
nothing  of  the  "Boxers"  and  Imperial  Chinese  troops. 

If  ever  troops  needed  water  reserve  supply,  for  urgency  as  well 
as  sanitary  reasons,  it  was  on  that  march.  The  Japanese,  Russians, 
Germans,  French,  and  British,  all  were  provided  in  some  way.  The 
Japanese  drank  only  aerated  water  prepared  regularly  by  the  field 
filters,  the  water  cart  moving  with  the  column  and  permitting  the 
replenishing  of  the  canteens  at  any  time  without  hindering  the 
march  or  scattering  the  troops.  For  the  Japanese  officers  and 
wounded,  there  was  an  ample  supply  of  bottled  mineral  water.  The 
British,  Germans,  and  Russians,  all  had  a  reserve  supply,  either  in 
carts  or  carried  in  skins  on  mules.  Only  the  Americans  were  utterly 
destitute.  An  average  of  one-third  of  the  force  was  always  away 
from  the  column  on  a  hunt  for  drinking  water.  At  nightfall,  when 
the  camps  were  pitched,  they  would  have,  perhaps,  to  tramp  long 
distances  to  obtain  enough  water  for  cooking  purposes,  while  all 
the  other  allies  had  theirs  ready  to  hand,  simply,  it  was  some  one's 
business  to  attend  to  it  and  see  that  proper  facilities  were  provided. 
Truly,  'tis  a  lop-sided  commissary  service  which  supplies  an  army 
with  solid  food — and  woe  to  it  if  it  fail — but  makes  no  provision 
whatever  for  water. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  123 

While  both  are  indispensable,  water  is  far  more  of  an  urgent 
necessity  to  troops  than  is  other  food.  Frequently  a  few  drops  mean 
whether  a  soldier  will  drop  or  continue  to  march,  and  the  first  cry 
of  a  wounded  man  is  for  water.  The  advisability  of  supplying  troops 
with  water,  even  while  in  action,  has  long  been  recognized,  and,  not- 
withstanding the  difficulty,  has  been  successfully  accomplished. 

In  this  war  I  have,  for  the  first  time,  seen  the  "bhisti,"  whom 
Rudyard  Kipling  has  immortalized  as  "Gunga  Din"  at  work.  He 
has  a  brother  now  in  the  Jap  water  coolie,  whose  duty  is  to  supply 
water  to  troops  in  action,  and  succor  the  wounded  on  the  field.  Some 
day,  perhaps,  Uncle  Sam  may  awake  to  appreciation  of  the  necessity 
of  some  needed  reforms  in  his  army  and  take  a  leaf  out  of  the 
Mikado's  book.  Three  days  after  the  allied  forces  entered  Peking, 
over  eight  hundred  Americans  or  one-third  of  the  total  force  under 
General  ChafTee,  were  in  the  hospital.  The  percentage  of  Japanese 
troops  unfit  for  duty  at  the  same  time  was  less  than  five.  Yet  they 
had  done  more  work  during  the  campaign  than  had  the  Americans. 

We  seem,  for  some  reason,  always  to  be  lacking  adequate  trans- 
port. Some  of  the  powers  are  just  as  badly  off  as  the  United 
States  in  this  matter  of  proper  transport,  but  some  are  immeasur- 
ably superior.  The  Japanese  and  British-Indian  contingents  are 
the  best.  They  have  not  only  developed  the  light  vehicle  and  small 
package  system  to  a  high  state  of  excellence,  but  they  have  found 
another  accelerator  in  the  use  of  a  large  number  of  camp  followers. 
In  a  British  or  Japanese  regiment  the  number  of  camp  followers 
almost  equals  the  number  of  men  bearing  arms. 

These  auxiliaries  are  really  servants  of  the  troops.  They  re- 
lieve the  fighting  men  of  all  superfluous  baggage  on  the  march  and 
do  the  camp  labor  when  the  column  halts.  The  Japanese  or  British- 
Indian  soldier  carries  nothing  while  marching  except  his  rifle,  am- 
munition, and  water  bottle.  Xot  only  can  he  move  faster  and  with 
less  fatigue,  but  he  is  prepared  to  go  into  battle  at  an  instant's 
notice.  The  American.  German,  or.  French,  soldier,  if  suddenly 
attacked  or  brought  into  action,  has  to  cast  aside  his  heavy,  bulky 
kit.  These  are  frequently  stolen  before  the  men  return  to  secure 
them,  if  they  ever  do.  Witness  the  denuding  of  our  troops  by  the 
straggling  bands  of  Cubans  during  the  Santiago  campaign.  Then, 
suppose  the  troops  advance  several  miles  in  the  course  of  an  engage- 
ment, which  frequently  happens  ;  they  must  either  abandon  their  per- 
sonal equipment  (less  rifle,  ammunition,  canteen,  cup,  and  in- 
trenching tool)  entirely,  or  return  for  it,  even  if  they  can  locate  and 
find  it  intact,  thus  covering  a  distance  three  times  when  once  should 


124  HISTORY    OF    TJTF.    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

have  sufficed.  Such  matters  as  these  often  decide  the  success  or 
failure  of  a  campaign.  It  is  a  humiliating  fact  that  in  nearly  e\ vrv 
march  of  any  distance  which  the  allies  have  made  in  China,  the 
Americans  held  the  column  back  because  they  were  unable  to  keep 
up,  A  remark  of  General  Dorward  is  recalled  as  he  watched  the 
little  detachment  of  Americans  toil  painfully  and  slowly  through  the 
mud  on  the  march  to  Tulin.  The  General  who  commanded  the  ex- 
peditionary force,  had  ridden  back  with  his  staff  to  see  what  was 
keeping  the  Yankees  back.  "Fine  fellows,"  he  said  as  he  gazed  at 
them,  "Fine  fellows.  Splendid  physiques.  Pity  they  load  them 
down  so  they  can't  march/' 

It  was  a  matter  of  comment  during  the  march  to  Peking  that 
the  Americans  had  more  men  drop  out  from  heat  prostration,  and 
required  to  rest  oftener,  than  the  troops  of  any  other  nation.  Fre- 
quently one-fourth  the  American  force,  with  those  who  went  down 
and  those  who  stopped  to  attend  them,  would  be  out.  The  climate 
cannot  account  for  this.  It  is  very  similar  to  that  of  the  greater 
part  of  the  United  States.  The  troops  were  not  "green."'  They 
were  veterans,  just  from  months  of  active  service  in  the  Philippines 
and  Cuba.  It  was  not  inferiority  of  physique.  The  Americans 
are  the  strongest  men  out  here.  What  then,  was  the  reason?  The 
men  were  required  to  do  too  much.  In  marching,  they  carried 
three  times  the  weight  imposed  upon  Japanese,  British,  or  Rus- 
sian troops.  Then,  a  dozen  times  during  a  day  they  were  compelled 
to  make  detours  to  replenish  their  canteens.  While,  the  march 
having  ended,  the  Japs  or  British  soldiers  were  taking  things  easy, 
while  their  camp  followers  pitched  the  tents,  lighted  the  fire,  cooked 
the  food,  and  prepared  the  beds,  the  weary  American  doing  all 
these  things  for  himself.  What  wonder  that  he  frequently,  from 
sheer  exhaustion,  went  supperless  to  bed,  and  slept  unsheltered 
rather  than  undergo  the  labor  of  pitching  his  tent,  to  become  the 
next  day  a  ready  victim  to  heat  and  dysentery?  The  camp  auxil- 
iary certainly  pays  for  his  keep.  In  spite  of  his  many  handicaps, 
the  American  soldier  has  held  his  own.  He  has  numerous  weak- 
nesses, but  fear  of  the  enemy  is  not,  fortunately  for  the  security  of 
the  Republic,  one  of  them.  I  heard  foreign  officers  criticise  freely 
his  military  manners,  organization  and  equipment, — but  never  his 
fighting  qualities,  once  his  burden  of  antiquated  methods  is  cast 
aside  and  he  faces  the  foe  on  the  fighting  line.  There  he  is  as  he 
always  was,  and  let  us  hope,  always  will  be.  In  all  the  criticism 
one  hears  there  is  an  undercurrent  of  respect.  T  never  see  him  in 
a  fight  but  I  feel,  with  absolute  certainty,  that  the  American 


HISTORY    OF    Till:    MILITARY    CANTEEN 


125 


*  Stamping $  £namel  Co.  Cantee*. 
ker  Fi/ter )  no 


S  Shan  rr4vrt  frr****.  I  brot 


t*A*re  Aea/faye 


\2()  HISTORY    OF    T11K'  MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

soldier  will  ever  give  a  good  account  of  himself  if  not  asked  to  do 
more  than  should  be  asked  of  any  man.  Other  elements  being 
approximately  equal,  the  stoutest  heart  and  steadiest  nerve  will 
win  in  the  most  battles.  In  these  qualities,  Uncle  Sam's  boys  are 
second  to  none.  "They  have  done  their  share,"  is  the  verdict  of 
people  in  China,  who  have  been  here  through  it  all.  The  lessons 
of  this  war  have  chiefly  held  to  the  prosaic  lines  of  organization, 
supply,  and  equipment,  and  on  matters  such  as  these  they  have 
shed  a  brilliant  light  for  those  who  care  to  learn.'' 


How  THE  CARRETA,  OR  WATER  CART,  USED  AT  HEADQUARTERS.  FIRST 

DIVISION,  FIFTH  ARMY  CORPS,  IST  JULY-IOTII  AUGUST, 

1898,  AT  SANTIAGO  DE  CUBA,  WAS  OBTAINED. 

During  the  afternoon  of  Friday,  ist  July,  1898,  after  the  com- 
mander of  the  First  Division,  Fifth  Army  Carps, — General  J.  Ford 
Kent, — accompanied  by  his  aide,  the  late  Major  George  S.  Cart- 
wright,  and  the  Division  Inspector,  mounted,  reached  the  crest  of 
San  Juan  hill,  where  we  had  been  preceded  by  General  H.  S.  Haw- 
kins, and  the  6th  and  i6th  United  States  Infantry,  there  was  a 
lull  in  the  firing  of  the  retreating  Spaniards.  This  gave  opportunity 
for  a  brief  inspection  of  the  grounds.  A  carreta,  a  dead  mule,  and 
some  empty  water  casks,  were  noted  on  the  western  slope.  A  car- 
reta, is  a  cart  with  two  wheels,  fitted  to  be  drawn  by  one  animal. 
This  particular  one  had  been  used  by  the  Spaniards  to  haul  water 
to  Fort  San  Juan.  A  sketch  of  the  carreta,  cr  water  cart  accom- 
panies this  report.  The  original  of  the  sketch  was  made  by  Mr. 
Adolfo  Carlos  Munoz, — volunteer  aide-de-camp  on  General  Kent's 
staff, — wounded  by  a  shrapnel  bullet  just  above  the  right  ear,  p. 
m.  of  the  following  day,  died  iith  November,  1899. 

After  a  portion  of  the  24th  United  States  Infantry  gained  the 
summit  on  the  date  first  mentioned,  the  Inspector  got  a  colored 
sergeant,  name  unknown,  and  two  privates  same  regiment,  to  assist 
in  making  a  break  down  the  slope  for  the  carreta  and  the  barrels. 
We  succeeded  in  hauling  the  outfit  up  over  the  crest,  and  down  to 
where  the  Division  Commander's  hammock  was.  There  it  re- 
mained in  charge  of  Second  Lieutenant  Fred  L.  Munson,  com- 
manding the  division  headquarters  detachment  guard,  until  August 
loth, — date  of  departure  from  Santiago  de  Cuba,  for  Montauk,  L. 
I.  The  carreta  saved  many  a  weary  trip  to  the  San  Juan  river  for 
a  canteen  full  of  water. 


HISTORY    <>F    TTfl-:    MILITARY    t  A  XTKK.V.  \2J 

OBSERVATIONS  OX  THE  PEKIX  RELIEF  EXPEDITION'. 
By  Captain  William  Crozicr,  Ordnance  Department,  U.  S.  A. 

The  Chief  Ordnance  Officer,  General  Chaffee's  Staff,  states  as 
follows  :  From  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  the  first  American  troops 
at  Tien  Tsin, — pth  Infantry, — plenty  was  the  order  of  the  day. 
Ginger  ale  and  bottled  water  were  in  abundance.  The  fare  was  less 
generous  on  the  march  to  Pekin. 

X'o  provision  was  made  for  supplying  the  United  States  troops 
with  water  on  the  march,  other  than  the  canteen  which  each  man 
carried.  Other  troops  were  better  off  in  this  respect.  The  British 
Indians  carried  \vater  in  skins  on  pack  mules,  and  some  had  barrels 
upon  carts.  But  there  are  wells  in  all  the  Chinese  villages,  and 
these,  along  the  line  of  march,  were  not  more  than  a  mile  and  a 
half  apart;  and,  with  the  column  properly  halted,  it  is  as  easy  to 
fill  canteens  from  a  stationary  well  as  from  a  stationary  cart  or  mule. 
The  water  in  the  wells  was  always  cool,  and,  though  seldom  per- 
fectly clear,  it  was  never  revoltingly  turgid,  as  was  that  of  the  rivers 
and  canals;  it  was  drank  freely  by  all  the  troops  of  the  expedition. 
X'o  other  troops  made  such  a  time  about  water  as  the  Americans, 
who  had  orders  to  drink  none  without  boiling  it,  and  had  special 
utensils  provided  for  the  purpose.  These  orders  could  not  be  en- 
forced, however,  as  thirsty  soldiers  will  not  wait  even  when  arrived 
in  camp,  for  water  to  boil  and  cool.  Portable  filters  were  provided 
and  were  used  in  the  hospital  service,  one  also  I  observed  in  the 
light  battery,  and  one  was  in  the  headquarters  mess.  The  charac- 
teristic ailment  of  North  China,  however,  seems  to  come  independ- 
ently of  the  water ;  it  attacks  nearly  all  Europeans  and  Americans 
during  their  first  summer,  not  sparing  even  those  who  drink  nothing 
but  imported  waters.  With  careful  inquiry,  I  was  unable  to  find  a 
medical  man  who  could  assign  a  satisfactory  reason,  other  than  it 
was  "in  the  air." 

I  have  neither  heard  nor  read  any  criticisms  of  the  operations  of 
the  Subsistence  Department,  other  than  as  these  were  affected  by 
lack  of  transportation,  which  suggests  an  inquiry  as  to  the  char- 
acter and  quantity  of  the  latter.  The  Americans  had  thirteen  four- 
mule  army  wagons  and  one  pack  train  of  forty  freight  mules,  be- 
sides two  or  three  ambulances  and  a  Dougherty  wagon.  This  sup- 
ply was  intended  to  take  care  of  two  regiments  of  infantry,  a  bat- 
talion of  marines,  a  light  battery,  and  the  headquarters.  1  he  four- 
mule  wagon  is  considered  to  be  distinctly  superior  to  the  means 
of  transportation  of  supplies  employed  by  the  British,  Japanese, 
Russians,  or  French.  *  *  *  The  American  train  had  one  man 


UcS  IllSTOKY    OF    THE    MJLiTAKV    CANTEEN. 

to  four  mules,  all  the  loaded  animals  being  driven  in  a  bunch  with 
a  bell-mare  leading.  Here  also  was  economy  of  numbers,  although 
perhaps  the  Japanese  provision  of  a  man  to  each  animal  was  a 
necessity,  as  their  ponies  are  all  stallions,  and  their  train  at  a  halt 
was  a  bedlam  of  flying  heels  and  wild  snorts,  it  was  more  dan- 
gerous to  pass  than  a  Chinese  outpost.  A  large  proportion  of  the 
Japanese  transportation  consisted  of  pack  animals ;  the  British 
Indians  had  nothing  else;  the  inferiority  in  economy,  when  con- 
trasted with  the  American  system,  is  striking,  when  it  is  noted  that 
it  requires  the  same  number  of  mules  to  carry  1,000  pounds  on 
packs  as  will  haul  3,000  pounds  in  our  army-wagon.  The  Ameri- 
can pack  train  carried  ammunition  only,  for  which  purpose  it  could 
not  have  been  replaced,  as  it  afforded  the  only  means  of  maintaining 
a  first  reserve  supply  in  constant  readiness  for  immediate  distribu- 
tion to  the  firing  line.  The  pack  saddles  of  the  different  nation- 
alities were,  in  their  effect  on  the  animals,  of  about  equal  merit. 
Occasional  sore  backs  were  noticed  in  all  the  trains,  but  the  Ameri- 
can required  the  most  skillful  packer. 

#  :;<  *  *  *  *  * 

Within  three  days  after  the  arrival  at  Pekin,  bottled  waters  and 
fancy  groceries  began  to  make  their  appearance  in  the  American 
commissary  and  within  a  week  there  was  abundance  of  these  for  all. 

If  a  sufficient  number  of  four-mule  wagons,  the  most  rapid  and 
economical  transportation  yet  devised  for  countries  in  which  they 
can  go  at  all, — and  with  a  very  little  help  they  can  do  marvels  in 
the  way  of  trail  covering, — be  supplied  to  carry  all  the  men's  bag- 
gage, except  their  arms  and  canteens,  and,  in  addition,  a  sufficient 
number  of  armed  men  to  act  as  train  guards,  riding  either  in  the 
seats  with  the  drivers  or  on  others  provided,  these  men  would  be 
sufficiently  fresh  to  do  the  loading  and  ether  extra  work,  and  the 
whole  organization  would.be  made  more  economical  and  serviceable 
than  one  provided  with  coolie  corps. 


FURTHER  OPEN  AIR  TESTS  MADE  OF  CANTEENS 
INTENDED  FOR  USE  IN  MILITARY  SERVICE,  MADE  AT  HEADQUARTERS 

DEPARTMENT  OF  DAKOTA,  ST.  PAUL,  MINNESOTA. 
(For  description  of  various  canteens  tested  see  pp.  57-61  this 
report;  also  further  description  given  below.) 

Specifications,  etc.,  of  Canteen  "A A". — Canteen  "AA"  is  the 
regulation  service  pattern  canteen,  manufactured  at  Rock  Island 
Arsenal,  1900,  and  issued  to  me  direct  from  there.  It  has  double 
cover — Petersham  felt  inner,  and  dyed  duck,  or  canvas,  outer  cover. 


rt  A 
cur  T« 


HISTORY  ()!••  Tin-:  MILITARY  CANTEEN.  129 

Capacity  44  fluid  ounces,  45  and  2-4  ozs.  avoirdupois.  Weight, 
empty,  covers  on  and  dry,  avoirdupois,  12  and  J  ounces.  Weight, 
filled,  covers  on  and  dry,  avoirdupois,  58  and  £  ounces.  Weight, 
filled,  covers  on,  after  ten  minutes'  immersion,  avoirdupois,  63  and 
2-4  ounces.  Weight  of  the  tin  canteen  flask,  empty,  no  covers  on, 
avoirdupois,  9  and  2-4  ounces. 

This  canteen  was  sent  for  and  used  by  me  in  order  to  have  a 
standard  of  comparison,  and  because  of  variations  noted  in  other 
canteens  issued  to  the  First  Cavalry,  Eighth  Infantry,  and  other 
organizations  from  which  I  received  them,  termed  "U.  S.  Army 
Regulation  Service  Canteen,  Ordnance  Pattern,"  or  "U.  S.  Army 
Regulation  Service  Tin  Flask,  Ordnance  Pattern",  etc.  In  all  tests 
made  after  Test  No.  68,  all  three  of  these  service  canteens,  or  flasks, 
were  used.  Tests  were  conducted  as  described  on  pp.  43-4,  this 
monograph,  and  by  the  same  person,  using  the  same  thermometers. 

Specifications  of  Canteen  "BB". — Canteen  "BB"  is  a  combina- 
tion canteen  and  filter.  Canteen  is  of  the  regulation  tin  flask  type, 
double  cover — regulation  felt  or  Petersham  inner,  and  dyed  duck 
or  canvas  outer.  Made  at  Rock  Island  Arsenal,  October,  1898,  with 
a  specially  wide  mouth  to  accommodate  the  Mrs.  Caroline  Parker 
Filter.  Capacity,  filter  in,  40  fluid  ounces,  42  ounces  avoirdupois; 
filter  out,  fluid  45  ounces,  avoirdupois,  46  ounces.  Weight,  filled, 
covers  on  and  dry,  filter  in,  59  ounces  avoirdupois.  Ditto,  after 
ten  minutes'  immersion,  64  ounces  avoirdupois.  Weight  of  the  tin. 
flask,  empty,  no  cover,  filter  out,  9  and  J  ounces  avoirdupois. 
Weight  of  filter,  including  soft  rubber  top,  3  and  -J  ounces  avoirdu- 
pois. Weight  of  duck,  or  canvas,  cover,  dry,  I  and  2-4  ounces. 
Weight  of  same  after  ten  minutes'  immersion,  3  and  J  ounces 
avoirudpois.  Weight  of  water  absorbed  by  the  canvas  cover,  i  and 
2-4  ounces.  Weight  of  the  Petersham  felt,  or  inner  cover,  dry, 
I  and  2-4  ounces.  Weight  of  same  after  ten  minutes'  immersion, 
7  and  2-4  ounces  avoirdupois.  Weight  of  water  absorbed  by  the 
inner  cover,  6  ounces  avoirdupois.  Weight  of  the  canteen  ''BB", 
empty,  covers  on  and  dry,  filter  out,  12  and  f  ounces  avoirdupois. 
Weight  of  the  canteen,  empty,  covers  on  and  dry,  filter  in,  16  ounces 
avoirdupois. 

Specifications  of  Canteen  "CC". — The  canteen  purchased  by  the 
United  States  for  trial,  in  December,  1898,  or  October,  1898,  from 
the  Dubuque  Stamping  and  Enamel  Company,  has  been  described, 
and  the  objections  to  enameled  metal  as  a  material  for  canteen 
flasks  dwelt  upon,  in  previous  pages  of  this  monograph.  In  the 
test  tables  it  is  termed  canteen  "C". 


130 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    C'AXTKK.Y. 


B 


6/.<S.  Army  Refutation  Scruice  Canteen, 
Crdnanc*  T&ttern,  double  Coi/er,  feliancL 
Cant/as,  lu.t  baiting ,  a/so,  a,  woolen  stock f*f 
ley  ctratvn  ovvr  it. 

Capacity. +s  ox.   tretyAt;  ZZ  oz. 


Arrow 


HISTORY    OF    Till-:    -MILITARY    CAXTEEN.  13! 

Canteen  "CC"  is  an  enameled  metal  canteen  flask  bought  by  the 
U.  S.  from  the  Dubuquc  Stamping  &  Enamel  Company.  Its  con- 
struction, also  its  material,  is  in  general  identical  with  that  of  can- 
teen "C", — Differing  in  these  details :  It  is  covered  and  its  capacity 
is  less.  Its  side  pieces  have  wire  triangles. 

Canteen  "CC"  has  a  double  cover  of  the  same  materials,  appar- 
ently as  are  used  in  Regulation  canteen  "A"  or  "AA."  It  lacks  the 
filter  with  which  canteen  "C"  is  provided,  and  the  mouthpiece,  or 
neck,  is  different.  (See  blue  print  of  "C,"  and  of  "CC",  also  sketch 
of  "C",  accompanying  this  report.)  The  construction  of  the  wire 
side  triangles  of  "CC"  is  similar  in  material  and  in  shape  to  the 
present  regulation  canteen.  The  side  loops  are  not, — they  being 
made  of  enameled  metal  ware. 

Flask  "CC"  is  encircled  by  a  band,  42  in.  by  i  in.,  of  same  ma- 
terial as  the  Petersham  felt.  It  is  provided  with  2-4  of  an  ounce 
more  of  this  absorbent  material  than  the  regulation  canteen  has. 
The  side  band  plain  iron  wire  triangles  of  this  canteen  are  engaged 
in  ears  of  enameled  metal,  each  of  which  is  fastened  to  the  side 
band  by  means  of  two  rivets.  The  mouthpiece,  or  nozzle,  is  also  a 
separate  piece  of  enameled  metal,  the  overlapping  edges  of  which 
are  held  together  by  means  of  two  rivets.  Apart  from  the  triangles, 
rivets,  neck-chain,  neck-band,  chain,  cork  and  its  attachments,  six 
pieces  of  enameled  metal  are  employed  in  the  construction  of  the 
canteen  flask. 

Capacity,  in  fluid  ounces,  43.     Avoirdupois  ounces,  44  and  J. 

Weight,  empty,  covers  on  and  dry,  avoirdupois,  20  ounces. 

Weight,  filled,  covers  on.  after  ten  minutes'  immersion,  74 
ounces. 

Weight,  filled,  covers  on  and  dry,  avoirdupois,  64  and  J  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  empty  enameled  flask,  no  covers  on,  avoirdupois, 
1 6  and  J  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  duck  or  canvas  cover,  dry,  avoirdupois,  T  and  J 
ounces. 

Weight  of  the  duck  or  canvas  cover  after  ten  (10)  minutes'  im- 
mersion, avoirdupois,  2  and  j  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  water  absorbed  by  the  canvas  cover,  avoirdupois, 
T  ounce. 

Weight  of  the  Petersham  felt,  or  inner  cover,  including  the 
band,  dry,  avoirdupois,  2  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  Petersham  felt  or  inner  cover,  including  band, 
after  ten  minutes'  immersion,  avoirdupois,  10  and  2-4  ounces. 

Weight  of  the  water  absorbed  by  the  Petersham  felt,  or  inner 
cover,  including  the  band,  avoirdupois,  8  and  -J  ounces. 


1 32 


HISTORY    OF    T1IK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.   <U>. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Hour. 

Out 

side 

Each  canteen  was  full.     COVERS  DRY.     All  of  the  canteens  were  suspended  from  a 
trestle,  so  that  free  circulation  obtained. 

1  . 

A 

A-  I  A  A 

1!     li   1!  C  C;    E 

G 

H 

i 

L       Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

v    \v 

x 

8.00  am 
9.00" 

+48 
50 

170 
120 

I7O  170-  I7O 

106  130  144 

1701  1  70:170 
126  13'-;    yS 

170 
152 

170 
I58 

170 
154 

I7O  170 
132  152 

170,170 
150144 

170  170  I/O 
146  150  122 

I7? 
96 

170 
92 

10.00  " 

S2 

94 

74104 

122 

100 

112 

72(130 

144 

132  110  132 

126126 

126,1^0 

,96 

68 

*66 

1  I.OO  " 

56 

80 

66!  90 

1  08 

86 

96 

641118 

136 

118    94  118 

1141116 

112 

114 

82 

62 

60 

I2.OOIH. 

58 

72|  62 

80 

91 

76 

84 

62 

1  06 

122 

106 

86 

1  06 

104 

1  02 

102 

IO2 

74 

60    c8 

i.oo  pin 

60 

66 

62 

72 

84 

70 

76 

62 

96 

112 

94i  78 

98 

94 

92 

92 

92 

70 

60 

S8 

2.OO  " 

58 

64 

S8 

661  78 

66 

72 

58 

90 

1  08 

86 

72 

89 

88 

88 

84 

86 

64 

S8 

56 

3.00" 

S8 

62 

58 

66 

72 

62 

68 

S8 

84 

IOO 

80   68 

84 

82 

80 

80 

80   62 

58 

58 

4.00  " 

60 

58 

62!  70 

60    64 

58 

78 

94 

74 

64 

80 

74 

76 

74 

74 

60 

58 

5.00  " 

58 

58 

58 

62 

66 

6oi  62 

58 

74 

92 

72 

62 

74 

72 

72 

7° 

72 

58 

58 

58 

F,eaky. — Leakage  occurred  in  Canteen  "X"  at  the  point  where  the  stirrup  shaped  loops  were 
c'amped  to  the  sides  of  «.he  flask  by  means  of  four  rivets.  The  Parker  filter  in  Canteen  "1)H" 
was  found  to  be  broken,  having  separated  from  the  soft  rubber  top.  Breakage  thought  to  be 
occasioned  by  leaving  the  flask,  filter  in,  against  steam  radiator. 


TEST  No.  70. 


Hour.                 Outside 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions  same  as  i 

n  preceding  Test. 

ALL  COVERS  T)K\. 

A  |A-I  A  A 

B 

B15 

c  c 

E 

G 

V 

L 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

U 

v 

46 

52 
54 

56 

58 

60 

60 

58 

56 

54 

\v  \ 

7  AC  a  m                 "^46 

46 

4S 
So 
54 

£ 

5s 

$ 

54 

46 
48 
50 
52 

54 
54 
54 
54 
54 
54 

46 
48 
5° 
52 
54 
54 
56 
54 
54 
54 

46 
48 
50 

52 

54 
54 
56 

5r6 
56 

54 

46 

48 
48 
50 
50 
52 

54 

54 
52 
54 

46 

48 
48 
50 
52 
54 
56 
54 
54 
54 

46 
48 
50 
50 

i 

56 

54 
54 
54 

46 
48 
48 
48 
50 
50 
52 

54 
54 

52 

46  46 

4846 

4848 
5050 
5052 
5054 
5054 

52|54 
52|54 
50|54 

46 
50 

52 

54 
56 

it 

$ 

56 

46 
50 

52 
52 

U 

$ 
$ 

46  46 
4848 
5050 
5250 
5252 

5454 
5654 
5454 
5454 
5454 

46 

48 
48 
48 
50 
52 
52 
52 
52 
52 

46 

48 
48 
50 
50 
52 

54 
54 

52 
52 

46  46 

48  46 

50*48 
50:  48 
50;  50 
54  52 
54  52 
54  54 
54  54 
54  52 

8  AC      "                             48 

0  AC       "                                      CO 

y  ^to                                 J 
10  AC        I     C4 

n-45    "  !     54 
12.45  p  m  58 

I   AC       "     ..                          S2 

l-t3                                                                J 

i  AC                                54 

"  AC      "                          t>4 

J'HO                                                            JT- 

A  AC      "    .-                        54 

^Leaky. — Leakage  in  Canteen  "X"  as  in  preceding  test.  Temperature  of  "V,"  the  Eveking, 
Westphalia,  Canteen,  rose  above  that  of  the  air,  and  remained  above  that  of  its  environments  for  a 
period  of  eight  (8)  hours.  Aluminum  Canteen  "L,"  the  Karlsruhe,  leaden,  one;  also,  the  Lanz  tin 
flask.  Canteen  "Q"  rose  above  the  atmospheric  temperature. 

Note  should  be  made  that  none  of  the  canteen  covers  were  wet,  or  moistened. 


HISTORY   OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  71. 


133 


Open  air  test— in  sun  for  six  (6)  hours,  followed  by  three  (3)  hours  in  the  shade. 
Each  canteen  was  full.  All  covers  dry.  All  of  the  canteens  were  suspended  from  a 
trestle,  so  that  free  circulation  prevailed.  Test  made  on  the  roof  of  the  L,  Army 
Building,  Headquarters  Department  of  Dakota,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 


I  Out- 
Hour  side 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

,Tem. 

A 

A-  I  A  A 

B 

HH  C  C 

1 

E 

G 

H 

I  i  L   o 

R 

s 

T 

U 

V 

w 

X 

a.m.l 

7.50  +58 

48 

48'  48 

48 

48  48  48  48 

48 

48 

48  4^ 

48 

48 

48]  48 

48 

48 

*48 

s.50,  60 
9.50  70 

58 
60 

56  50 

60  54 

50 
S4 

52  56 

54  58 

54 

S8 

48 
So 

So 

50 

52 

66  54 

68  58 

48 

SO 

50 

54 

54 

50 

S2 

54 

S8 

'54 

58 

56 

S<8 

10.50  63 
11.50  70 

64 
66 

64  58 
66  62 

56 
60 

58  62 
62  64 

64 
68 

52 
56 

52 
54 

56 

58 

70 

72 

62 
64 

56" 

58 

54 
S6 

58  56 

60   58 

64 
68 

62 
64 

60 
60 

p.m.) 

I2.'i0  72 

70 

68  64 

64 

64.  66 

70 

S8 

S6 

60 

74 

66 

62 

60 

60 

60 

70 

66 

64 

1.50  60 

70 

66!  66 

66 

66  65 

70 

60 

S8 

62 

74 

66 

64 

62 

62 

62 

7° 

66 

6/j 

2.50  60 

66 

64|  64 

64 

64  64 

64 

60 

S8 

62 

70 

66 

62 

62 

62 

62 

66 

62 

62 

3.50  60 

64 

62  62 

64 

62  64 

62 

60 

S8 

60 

68 

66 

62 

60 

60 

60 

64 

62 

6?! 

150  60 

62 

6o!  62 

62 

62!  62 

60 

60 

58 

60 

66 

6* 

62 

60 

60 

60 

62 

62 

60 

"Leaky. 

COMMENT. — Temperature  of  "A"  -  Regulation  Canteen — held  above  that  of  the  air  during  the  las1 
three  hours. 

Temperature  of  "L" — Karlsruhe,  Baden,  aluminum,  German  single  felt-covered  canteen — ranged 
and  kept  above  that  of  the  air  during  the  closing  eight  hours  of  the  test. 

Soeral  other  canteens  rose  to  a  temperature  above  that  of  the  atmosphere,  and  kept  above  it,  dur 
ing  the  three  closing  hours  that  the  trestle  was  in  the  shade. 

Note  should  be  made  of  the  fact  that  none  of  the  covers  were  wet,  or  moistened,  before  or  during 
this  test. 


TEST  No.  712. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 

All  the  canteens  were  full,  covers  dry,  suspended  from  a  trestle   und^r  glass  (storm 
window  —  eight  panes  of  glass,  each  20x17  inches)  placed  nearly  horizontally  above  the 
canteens  in  such  a  manner  as  to  admit  free  circulation  of  the  air.     Trestle  stood  on  roof 

of  L  of  Army  Building,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

A 

A-  I  A  A 

B 

H  B  C  C 

I 

E 

G 

H 

i 

L 

Q 

R 

S        T 

u 

V 

w 

x 

a.  in  . 

q.  IS 

*6o 

56 

S6 

56 

56 

S6    56 

56";    56 

S6 

S6 

S6 

56 

S6 

S6 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

10.  15 

60 

S8 

60 

S8 

S8 

60   60 

60 

S8 

S8 

S8 

60 

S8 

S8 

60 

58 

*6o 

11.15 

70 

62 

62 

60 

bo 

60   60 

62 

60 

58 

58 

62 

60 

60 

60 

58 

60 

62 

62 

62 

|>.  m. 

12.15 

/o 

64 

64 

62 

62 

64   64 

66!  60 

60 

60 

64 

62 

62 

62 

62 

60 

66 

62 

64 

i.  IS 

64 

64 

66 

64 

64 

64!  66 

68j  62 

62 

62 

66 

64 

64 

64   62 

62 

68 

64 

66 

2.15 

66 

66 

66 

66 

64 

66   66 

68 

62 

62 

62 

68 

66 

64 

64 

64 

64 

70 

64 

66 

*  Leaky. 


134  HISTORY    OF    TIll'l    MILITARY    CAXTliKX. 

TEST  No.  73. 


Out- 
Hour   ,    side 
Temp. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens' 


Conditions:     Under  glass 


i  preceding  test. 


i  A 

A-  I 

A  A 

B 

B  B  C  C  li 

G   H 

i 

LJQ 

R 

s 

T 

u 

v  w 

a.  m  . 

8.15!  +50 

56 

56 

56 

56  s6 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

o.  I  c 

54 

56 

56 

58 

56  56 

58; 

56 

58 

58 

56 

58 

58 

58 

10.  15 

56 

56 

56 

58 

56  56 

58 

56 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

11.15  58  56 

56 

58 

56 

56 

58 

56 

58 

58 

58 

58 

56 

58 

p.  m  . 

12.  IS    60   56 

.58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

.56 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

!•  15 

60  58j 

S8 

58 

58 

60 

58' 

58 

60 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

2.15 

60 

58' 

60 

60 

60 

60 

58 

60 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

3-15 

60 
60 

58 
58 

60 
60 

00 

60 

60 
60 

60 

58 

58 

58 

58 
58 

60 
60 

60 
60 

& 

58 
58 

-n  ',n 

OC  OC 

5-*5 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58 

58! 

58 

60 

58 

60 

60 

58 

58 

I 

TEST  No.  74. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 



Open-air  test,  canteens  all  full,  covers  dry,  suspended  from  trestle,  free  circu 
of  air. 

atio 

A 

A-  I 

A  A 

B 

B  B 

C  C 

K        C. 

H 

I 

L 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

i" 

V        \Y       X 

a.  m  . 

7.40 

+53 

50 

50 

5° 

50 

50 

50 

50 

50 

5o   5<> 

50 

52 

48 

48 

48 

48 

52| 

52 

46 

52 

48 

54 

54 

9.40 

4S 

48 

48 

48 

48 

50 

52 

46 

52 

50    54 

54 

10.40 

52 

48 

48 

48 

48 

52 

52 

48 

52 

50 

54 

54 

11.40 

54 

50 

50 

5o 

50 

52 

52 

50 

52 

50 

54 

54 

p.  m. 

12.40 

56 

52 

52 

52 

52 

54 

54 

50 

52 

52 

54 

54 

1.40 

56 

54 

54 

52 

54 

56 

54 

52 

52 

52 

54 

54 

2.40 

56 

54 

54 

54 

54 

56 

54 

52 

54 

54 

54 

54!     * 

3-4° 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54 

52 

54 

54 

54 

54 

4.40 

54 

54 

54 

54 

54    54                     ,  5*    52    54    54 

54 

54 

I 

Hour. 


TEST  No. 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


Outside 


canteens  full,  covers  dry,  suspended  from  tres- 
tle, under  glass  —  same  as  in  Test  No.  72. 


A 

A  A 

B 

C  C 

E 

L 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

U 

o  3O  am        ......     "^"62 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

56 

10*^0  "         •     '     68 

60 

60 

60 

60 

62 

58 

58 

60 

60 

60 

58 

i  i  10  "                   66 

62 

62 

62 

60 

62 

58 

62 

60 

62 

60 

60 

I  ">  ^O  P  HI           -  1        64 

6? 

6*1 

62 

62 

64 

60 

64 

64 

62 

62 

60 

I  7O   "                           64 

61 

64 

6/| 

6-1 

66 

62 

64 

64 

64 

64 

62 

1  •  ou     .   T* 
2.30  "  :     62 

64 

64 

64 

64 

64 

62 

64 

64 

64 

64 

62 

HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN 


135 


BB 


Canteen 

ctett&fe  Coders  .  Afaole  at  Jfo^k.  Jafanoi  /fr- 
Afr*.  Caroline  ftr 


*  is  the  reyts/atic*  €irt  Mask  a*icZ- 
t,  Oct.  /898  ti/r'6Ji  a  sjotctaliy  tvriele  rrroutJi  £4 
St'/tcr.  ' 


*  net's       <S9 


.  ff/£er  7/7,   /Vy/e*^,  cooenen  cutei  e?ry 

fa/ter  T/t.  frtfecL,  coders  ffrr^fter  £en  minutes  rnHmtrsion^iioirJujoofS'  ,  6+  ox. 
of  the  tin  Mask  .  no  Coi/ers,  eiryjty  .  fi/ter  oirt.    9fy   Of.. 


136 


HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  76. 


Hour. 


Outside 
Temperature. 


8.00  a.  m      

•1-48 

Q.OO      " 

48 

IO.OO      " 

48 

1  1  .  OO      "      

4.8 

I2.OO    111 

•  s 

I.OO  p.  Ill  

s° 

2.OO      "       .             

40 

-7.OO      " 

;8 

J.V^W 

4.  OO 

^S 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Canteens  "A,"  "AA,"  "1J"  and  "CC"  immersed 
for  sixteen  (16)  hours  before  commencing  test 
inside  covers  of  canteens  "L,"  "Q,"  "R,"  "S" 
I     and  "T,"  also  "U,"  saturated — outside  covers 
i     dry  when  test  commenced.  A  fine  rain  prevailed 
1     during  the  entire  period,  eight  (8)  hours,  covered 
by  the  test. 


A 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

L 

Q 

R  ;  s 

T  i  U 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46  46 

46  46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

48 

50 

5°  5° 

48  52 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

48 

48 

48  ;  48 

46  50 

46 

46 

46 

46 

46 

48 

48 

48!  48 

48 

48 

46 

46 

48 

48 

46 

48 

48j  48;  48 

46 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48 

48  48 

48 

48 

44 

44 

46 

44 

44 

46 

46  46  46 

46 

46 

42 

42 

42 

42 

40 

42 

421  42  42 

42 

42 

3? 

40 

40 

40 

38 

40 

40  40  40 

40 

40 

TEST  No.  77. 


Hour. 


Outside 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


All  covers  wet. 


7.40  a.  m.  . 

+  }2 

A 

44 

A  A 

44 

B 

44 

C  C 

44 

E 

44 

L 

44 

Q 

44 

R 

44 

S 

44 

T 

44 

U 

44 

8.40   " 

•>2 

T.A 

14. 

-7.6 

7,6 

7,6 

36 

-7.8 

-7.6 

-7.8 

-7.6 

-7.S 

Q.40   " 

^2 

12 

12 

12 

12 

IA 

12 

-34 

•2A 

32 

32 

34 

IO.4O   "   

36 

T.2 

12 

12 

i? 

$ 

12 

1? 

•7.7 

7? 

3? 

17, 

11.40  " 

^8 

T.2 

12 

14- 

36 

38 

14. 

12 

32 

32 

34 

31 

I2.4O  p.  1TI 

§ 

12 

12 

12 

12 

18 

14, 

14. 

72 

•32 

•24 

•24. 

I  4O   " 

•& 

12 

12 

12 

12 

3^ 

12 

14. 

•73 

•22 

•24. 

•22 

2.4.0   " 

^8 

12 

12 

12 

12 

-7,8 

14 

14. 

12 

•2-7 

12 

34 

3-40   "   

36 

32 

32 

32 

32 

38 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

32 

HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


137 


The    following  data  and   specifications  regarding    Canteens    "AA,' 
"BB,"  "CC,"  and  the  Lanz  Canteens  "Q"  and  "U"  are  given. 


"A  A." 

ozs. 

"BB." 
ozs. 

"CC." 
ozs. 

Lanz 

"Q." 

ozs. 

Karls- 
ruhe. 
Lanz 
"U." 

ozs. 

Weight  of  the  canteen,   empty,    covers 
on  and  dry  

'     129 

•7O 

Weight  of  the  canteen,    filled,    covers 
on  and  clrv 

rSl    av 

f..Z    „.. 

J9 

I7 

Weight  of  canteen,    filled,  covers  on^ 
after  ten  (10)  minutes  immersion.  .  .. 
Weight  of  the  canteen  flask,  empty,  no 

->°?    av 

631  av 
9i 

045  av 
74     av 

07^  av 
77i  av 

TI3 

01     av 

774  av 

Weight  of  water  in  canteen  flask    

Wt.  of  the  duck,  or  canvas  cover,  dry. 
Wt.  of  the  duck,  or  canvas  cover,  after 
ten  (10)  minutes  immersion  

j  45£  av 
U4    fd 
I-T 

il 

j 

If 

it 

j  44l  av 
U3      fd 
If 

?'4 

t          *  ' 

^49     av 

U5i  fd 
3^ 

rl 

J44    av 
U2|  fd 
3k 

rl 

Weight  of  the   water  absorbed  by  the 
canvas  cover  . 

rl 

ll 

zz 

J-i 

5-t 

Weight  of  the  Petersham,  felt,  or  inner 

1a 

,  i 

*2 

T    1 

q& 

Wt.  of  the  Petersham,  felt  or  inner  cov- 
er, after  ten(io)minutes  Immersion.. 
Wt.  of  the  water  absorbed  by  the  Peter- 
sham, felt,  or  inner  cover  

*2 

7i 

6 

A2 

74 
6 

ioi 

SI 

3i 

isi 

n1 

3S 

i5i 

TTi 

Weight  of  the  canteen,  covers  on  and 
dry,  filter  in,  empty  

16 

°2 

*12 

Weight  of  the  canteen,  filled,  covers  on 
and  dry  filter  in 

Weight   of  the  canteen,  empty,    filter 
out    covers  on  and  dry 

I2£ 

Wt.  of  the  canteen,  filled,  filter  in,  cov- 
ers dn,  after  ten  (10)  minutes  immer- 

\\T  l    of  water  in  canteen    filter  in 

i 

(  42     av 

Wt.  of  water  in  canteen,  filter  out  

Weight   of  the   tin    flask,    empty,    no 
cover,  filter  out  ......  .  ....  ....  .... 

j 
I 

{40     fd 

J46     av 
<  45     fd 

of 

Wt.  of  filter,  including  soft  rubber  top.  . 
Wt.  of  the  enameled  flask,   empty,  no 
covers  on.        .........  ......  ...... 

a 

i6i 

Wt.  of  duck,  or  canvas  cover,  and  lelt 

7l 

4i 

Wt.  of  duck,  or  canvas  cover,  and  felt 
combined,  after  ten  (10)  minutes  im- 

in 

17 

Wt.  of  water  absorbed  by  felt  and  can- 
vas cover  combined 

' 

III 

I2i 

A  discrepancy  exists  in  comparing  the  gross  weight  of  a  canteen,  covers  on,  after 
immersion,  as  a  whole,  in  water  for  ten  (10)  minutes,  as  opposed  to  the  result  obtained 
by  separately  immersing  and  then  weighing  separately,  the  components  of  the  canteen. 
This  difference  is  due  to  the  fact  that  the  felt  and  canvas  covers  take  up  more  water 
when  off  the  flask  of  the  canteen  than  they  do  when  on  the  flask. 

Illustration.— The  gross  weight  of  Canteen  "AA,"  covers  on,  after  ten  (10)  min- 
utes immersion,  canteen  filled,  was  63!^  ounces,  while  the  aggregate  weight  of  same, 
separately  weighed,  after  saturation  of  the  covers,  was  6534'  ounces,  avoirdupois. 


138  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

RECOMMENDATIONS,   ETC. 

It  is  feconunended  that  the  further  manufacture,  purchase,  or 
issue,  of  the  present  service  canteen  cease,  and  that  it  be  replaced  by 
a  canteen  of  different  material,  construction  and  shape. 

That  all  canteens  of  the  present  regulation  patterns,  now  in 
Arsenals  or  Depots  of  the  U.  S.,  be  sold  as  unsuitable. for  the  public 
service,  after  proper  inspection  and  survey.  This  under  the  law  of 
23d  March,  1825,  upon  which  Section  1,241,  Revised  Statutes,  is 
based. 

That  the  Lanz  method  of  covering  be  adopted  for  the  tin  can- 
teen flasks  now  in  process  of  fabrication  at  the  Rock  Island  Arsenal. 
By  the  time  that  the  98,284  tin  flasks  now  there  have  corroded, — a 
better  material  may  be  decided  on.  Aluminum  is  cheapening  con- 
stantly. The  regulation  canteen  is  not  durable.  It  is  poor  economy 
to  continue  it  in  service.  The  opinion  and  estimate  of  the  man  who 
carries  and  uses  the  canteen  is  preferable  to  the  opinion  or  estimate 
of  the  man  who  made  it.  Fidelity  to  the  welfare  of  the  former, 
rather  than  the  interests  of  the  latter,  prompts  the  recommenda- 
tion. The  Bidon  of  the  French  Army  is  said  to  have  been  deter- 
mined by  the  men-in-ranks.  Dr.  Nicholas  Senn,  of  532  Dearborn 
Avenue,  Chicago,  111.,  is  quoted  as  stating  that  the  regulation  can- 
teen invites  epidemics  by  sheltering  the  insidious  disease  germ. 
Further,  that  practical  tests  have  demonstrated  that  there  are  other 
canteens  having  merits  above  that  of  the  regulation  canteen.  Chang- 
ing the  material  of  the  flask  from  sheet  tin  to  enameled  ware  is  the 
application  of  a  false,  even  a  dangerous,  remedy.  When  a  soldier 
raises  a  canteen  to  his  mouth  for  the  purpose  of  taking  a  drink,  his 
lips  embrace  the  rim  of  the  neck  of  the  flask  so  that  the  turned 
edges  of  the  nozzle  will  come  inside  of  his  mouth.  The  lips  of  the 
drinker  should  not  touch  the  fabric  from  which  the  cover  of  the 
canteen  is  made. 

If  the  present  pattern  of  canteen  be  retained,  it  is  recommended 
that  an  openable  outer  cover  of  textile  fabric  be  adopted  instead  of 
an  outer  cover  fastened  round  the  edges ;  further,  that  the  inner 
cover  now  in  use  be  replaced  by  a  cover  of  all-wool  felt  of  at  least 
three  times  the  weight,  in  ounces,  of  the  present  inner  covering. 

When  an  openable  cover  is  laced  up  over  the  moistened  felt, 
evaporation  is  retarded  when  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere 
is  considerably  above  temperate — and  the  fluid  contents  of  the 
canteens  thus  kept  at  a  palatable  temperature  for  the  soldier's  use. 
The  physical  principle  involved  is  manifest. 

It  is  also  evident  that  when  the  temperature  of  the  atmosphere 


HISTORY    OF    Till-:    MILITARY    CANTliKX.  139 

is  considerably  below  temperate,  a  canteen  flask  covered  as  recom- 
mended,— inner  felt  not  being  moistened, — will  keep  its  contents 
at  a  palatable  temperature  for  the  soldier's  use  longer  than  if  the 
present  pattern  and  material  of  canteen  coverings  are  retained  in  the 
service. 

The  modern  canteen  is  not  of  circular,  but  of  oval,  gourd,  oblong 
bottle,  or  flask,  shape.  It  is  recommended  that  one  of  these  shapes 
be  adopted  for  the  U.  S.  Army  conteen  flask ;  also  that  the  side  of 
the  flask  that  is  next  the  body  be  flattened  or  slightly  concaved, 
the  other  side  being  convex.  I  am  of  the  opinion  that  the  inner 
cover, — that  is,  the  one  superimposed  upon  the  flask, — should  be 
of  absorbent  material.  Further,  that  the  lacing  method  for  the 
outer  cover,  extending  partly  around  the  edges  of  the  flask,  is 
durable  as  well  as  simple. 

Destructive  criticism  is  of  no  value  in  bringing  about  the  solu- 
tion of  a  problem.  Certain  existing  facts  in  regard  to  the  present 
service  canteen  have  been  stated.  The  settlement,  remedy,  and 
alternative,  is  commonplace  and  feasible.  It  consists  in  retiring  the 
present  regulation  canteen  issued  to  the  Army,  and  adopting,  in 
lieu,  the  Lanz  Canteen. 

Perhaps  some  one  else  will  devise  a  better  one;  no  one  has,  as 
yet,  done  so,  or  submitted  a  canteen  which  fulfills  so  many  of  the 
required  qualifications  of  rational  sense  and  principle  desired  in  a 
canteen,  as  the  Lanz  Canteen  Company,  of  Chicago,  111.  The  U.  S. 
Army  should  have  the  best  that  is  offered.  The  Department  having 
in  charge  the  selection  and  issue  of  canteens  should  be  in  sympa- 
thetic touch  with  outside  developments. 

An  objection  advanced  against  the  use  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  is 
that  the  inner  cover  of  all-wool  felt  will  attract  moths,  and  Govern- 
ment property  thus  be  eaten  up.  Equally  purile  is  the  objection  that 
as  the  inner  cover  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  is  thicker  in  substance  than 
the  present  regulation  inner  covers,  it  will  soak  up  more  water  and 
tlnrs  increase  the  weight  that  the  soldier  has  to  carry ; — of  course, 
it  will.  The  inner  cover  has  functions;  one  function  is  to  absorb 
several  ounces  of  water  in  warm  weather,  when  immersed.  Unused 
idle  canteen  jackets  of  wool-felt  may  be  eaten  by  moths  if  not  pro- 
tected just  as  storekeepers  protect  furs  and  woolens.  Omelets 
cannot  be  made  unless  eggs  be  broken.  Practical  soldiers  in  the 
field  would  not  object  to  a  few  ounces  increased  weight  caused  by 
the  absorbent  capacity  of  the  felt  covering,  in  view  of  the  gain  in 
palatablencss  of  the  fluid  within  caused  by  the  soaked  cover  and 


140 


HISTORY    OF    TFIK    .MILITARY    CAXTEEX. 


f/aak,  ctrcu/ar,  mad*  in.  /Vetvark   W<T.,   Cootr 
the  LartK  method,  doulle  coi/tfi  fe/t  and  <*ar>i/as . 
•++cx.-t  #eif4t ,/6ox. 


•fsftUVS  S^CH>.  jr'rtre  /eakaye  ityaft 


o 


,  /Ke/T,  /I  fa  mi  num.  Catrteen 
Flask,  circu/ar.  H<?  cover.  /Yo  solder 
said  to  be  used,.  Ca/oasi>ty.  /6  OZ.. , 
/r£  3'/f  ox. 


ol  Aluminum  Canteen. 
.  Capacity,  £9 cz.  »t>  8cz, 


Scale: 


feakaye  &*yan 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  14! 

succeeding-  retarded  evaporation  secured  by  the  outer  canvas  cover, 
in  an  arid  region  or  on  a  sweltering  day. 

Believing  that  the  canteen  which  most  effectually  performs  its 
functions,  viz. :  to  carry  and  preserve  the  temperature  of  the  fluid  it 
contains,  either  in  hot  or  cold  weather,  to  be  the  best  for  the  mil- 
itary service,  I  recommend  the  Lanz  Canteen  as  best  fulfilling  these 
requisites. 

The  new  Lanz  Canteen  is  of  aluminum,  one  piece,  oblong  shape, 
one  face  concave,  opposite  side  convex,  covered, with  4-8  inch  all- 
wool  felt;  openable  (3  piece)  outer  cover;  has  strap  with  rings  in 
end  to  go  round  the  flask  and  cover,  through  loops  in  latter. 

The  new  Lanz  Canteen  is  an  ounce  or  so  heavier,  dry,  and  ab- 
sorbs much  more  water  than  the  government  canteen.  The  remov- 
able canvas  cover  permits  rapid  saturation  of  the  felt  covering,  when 
immersed,  saturation  being  effected  in  a  very  few  minutes.  A  Gov- 
ernment canteen,  which  had  been  used,  absorbed  only  one  ounce  of 
water  in  ten  minutes,  while  the  loose  felt  covering  showed  a  capacity 
to  absorb  five  ounces.  Twelve  hours'  immersion  of  this  canteen 
caused  it  to  absorb  only  four  ounces.  The  fixed  canvas  covering 
prevents  access  of  water  to  the  felt.  The  felt  not  being  saturated 
loses  its  small  amount  of  moisture  comparatively  soon  and  with  the 
passing  of  evaporation  the  contents  of  the  canteen  soon  become 
warm. 

The  Lanz  Canteen  absorbs  its  water  quickly  and  its  canvas  cover 
placed  dry  over  the  wet  felt  retards  evaporation  and  keeps  the  con- 
tents cool  for  a  much  longer  period  than  the  regulation  canteen. 
Further,  trials  have  proven  that  the  Lanz  Canteen  will  keep  fluid 
at  a  palatable  temperature  in  an  Arctic  region  longer  than  the  U.  S. 
canteen  will.  The  flask  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  is  lighter  than  the 
U.  S.  canteen  and  holds  more  water ;  further,  the  openable  cover  of 
the  Lanz  Canteen  is  as  enduring  as  the  U.  S.  cover,  and  possesses 
advantages  that  the  U.  S.  cover  does  not  possess. 

The  shape  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  is  considered  an  advantage  by 
officers  and  men  who  have  had  field  experience  and  who  have 
tried  it. 

Attention  is  invited  to  drawings  of  six  aluminum  flasks,  divested 
of  their  coverings,  kept  for  sale  by  Mr.  Lanz.  Their  capacities  vary 
from  9-100  to  1.7  liter;  none  are  circular  in  shape;  all  are  oval;  all 
are  concave  on  one  side,  the  opposite  side  being  convex;  some  are 
dull  finish — lusterless — some  are  polished ;  some  have  flat  bottoms,— 
these  last  can  stand  up ;  some  have  drinking  cups ;  some  of  the  tops 
are  screw  tops. 


142  HISTORY    OK    T1IK    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

My  statements,  opinions  and  recommendations  regarding  can- 
teens have  been  based  upon  original  test  or  examination,  and  not 
upon  communicated  information. 

As  regards  the  Lanz  method  of  insulating  canteens,  my  pre- 
possessions were  favorable,  because  the  system  seemed  a  common- 
sense  one  and  the  methods  rational.  Neither  theory  or  bias,  how- 
ever, influenced  my  investigations  nor  my  recommendations. 

I  did  not  accept  the  claims,  tests,  or  results,  or  conclusions  of  any 
manufacturers  of  canteens,  or  material  for  canteens,  or  the  com- 
ponents of  canteens.  I  made  my  own  tests. 

The  methods  of  tests  and  manner  of  making  experiments  arc- 
described  on  p.  77. 

Fluid  versus  Avoirdupois,  Measurement — It  has  been  assumed 
throughout  this  monograph,  that  455  and  7-10  grains  constituted 
the  fluid  ounce,  which  is  18  arid  2-10  in  excess  of  an  ounce  avoirdu- 
pois. Manufacturers  often  state  that  the  capacity  of  a  flask  is 
so-and-so  many  ounces,  meaning  ounces  avoirdupois,  not  liquid 
measure. 


TINNING  AND  RETINNING  SHEET  STEEL  USED  IN  MAKING  CANTEEN 

FLASKS — DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PROCESSES  OF  TINNING  AND 

OF  RETINNING  MALLEABLE  IRON  AND  STEEL  PLATE. 

The  specifications  for  the  regulation  army  canteen  itemize  that 
it  shall  be  "made  of  XXXX  tin,  circular  in  shape,  7  and  J  inches 
in  diameter,  sides  oval  and  smooth,  thickness  through,  three  (3) 
inches",  etc. 

As  the  Ordnance  Department  has,  for  more  than  a  generation, 
been  making,  or  contracting  for  the  making  of  canteen  flasks  "of 
XXXX  tin",  no  treatise  or  monograph  about  military  canteen  is 
complete  unaccompanied  by  a  reference  to  sheet  metal  goods  rr 
articles  of  iron  or  steel  coated  with  tin. 

The  coating  of  articles  of  iron  and  steel  ware  with  zinc,  or,  as  the 
process  is  generally  known,  "galvanizing"  them,  as  a  means  of 
retarding  oxidation  and  for  other  reasons,  is  an  industry  about 
which  there  is  no  mystery. 

The  tinning  of  malleable  iron,  or  of  steel,  is  an  easy  process  to 
master.  The  price  of  the  metal  used  to  tin  articles  makes  the  cost 
of  the  material  more  than  the  labor  cost. 

The  tinning  of  sheet  steel,  such  as  is  used  in  making  canteens 
and  the  retinning  of  tin  ware,  are  special  processes. 

It  is  understood  that  the  terms  "X",  or  "XX",  or  "XXX",  or 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  143 

"XXXX"  tin,  as  applied  to  sheet  tin,  refer  to  the  thickness  of  I  lie 
metal  plus  its  tin  coating. 

Further,  that  four  cross  tin,  or  "XXXX"  tin,  is  a  sheet  of  tinned 
steel  plate,  thicker  than  three  cross  tin,  "XXX"  tin,  that  has  been 
pickled,  cleaned,  immersed ;  first  in  a  bath  of  molten  tin ;  second, 
into  a  bath  of  hot  tallow,  or  oil ;  third,  passed,  while  the  tin  is  still 
melted,  through  steel  rollers  running  in  the  hot  oil,  that  strip  off 
all  superfluous  tin,  leaving  a  thin,  smooth,  coating. 

The  tinplate  used  in  making  the  regulation  canteens  that  I  have 
tested,  has  a  coating  of  tin  of  about  three  (3)  pounds  to  the  box  of 
112  sheets  of  14  x  20,  or,  say,  .0138  pounds  per  square  foot,  two 
sides. 

The  best  grade  of  tinplate  made  by  the  American  Tinplate  Com- 
pany is  known  as  "AAAA  Charcoal",  and  has  a  coating  of  five  (5) 
pounds  to  the  box,  or  .023  pounds  per  square  foot. 

Either  of  these  coatings  is  very  light,  and  the  action  of  the  dies 
in  drawing  or  stamping  the  canteen  sides  into  shape  injures  the 
surface  to  some  extent  and  has  a  tendency  to  make  it  porous,  thus 
causing  the  steel  plate  to  soon  rust  through  the  coating  of  tin. 

The  Lanz  Manufacturing  Co.,  of  Chicago,  claims  that  the  proper 
way  to  make  tin  canteens  is  to  retin  them  by  the  process  employed 
on  all  fine  stamped  tinware ;  that  is,  to  retin  the  sides  of  the  canteen 
after  they  have  been  stamped  into  shape  and  before  the  sides  have 
been  soldered  around  the  edges. 

The  process  of  retinning  differs  from  the  process  of  tinning  the 
plate  above  outlined,  and  is  as  follows.  No  pickling  is  required. 

In  retinning  the  article  is  dipped  by  hand :  first,  into  hot  beef 
tallow  or  palm  oil ;  second,  into  molten  tin ;  third,  it  is  drawn  by 
hand  through  a  pot  of  hot  oil  which  gives  a  smooth,  bright  surface 
but  does  not  remove  the  tin  as  do  the  rollers  in  making  the  plate. 
After  the  tin  has  "set,"  the  article  is  hand  rubbed  in  flour. 

The  coating  left  on  the  plate  is  equal  to  about  45  pounds  to  the 
i  ,000  square  feet,  or  .045  pounds  per  square  foot,  or  nearly  three 
times  as  much  tin  as  is  found  on  the  surface  of  the  average  regula- 
tion canteen. 

This  retinning  process,  or  Lanz  method,  of  making  canteens  pro- 
duces more  durable  ones,  hence  more  desirable  ones,  than  the  tin- 
ning method.  They  should  last  three  to  four  times  as  long  as  the 
regulation  canteen  now  issued  by  the  military  establishment.  They 
cost  somewhat  more,  but  are  worth  more. 

The  Lanz  Manufacturing  Co.  also  suggests,  in  addition  to  retin- 
ning the  flask,  that  either  a  small  piece  of  zinc  be  soldered  to  the 


144  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

inside,  or  that  the  nozzle  of  the  canteen  be  made  of  zinc, — as  it  is 
a  well  known  fact  that  zinc  and  tin  plate,  soldered  together,  cause 
a  slight  galvanic  action,  which  seems  to  prevent  oxidation  to  some 
extent. 

If  any  kind  of  tin  canteen  is  retained  in  service,  the  advantages 
to  be  gained  by  the  adoption  by  the  U.  S.  of  the  Lanz  method  arc 
unquestionable.  Such  is  accordingly  recommended,  coupled  with 
the  further  suggestion  that  this  statement  be  referred  to  the  Board 
of  Ordnance,  Fortification  and  Equipment,  and  also  to  the  Chief 
of  Ordnance,  U.  S.  A. 

I  have  inspected  creamery,  also  cheese  factory,  appliances  and 
dairy  utensils  at  316  Robert  St.,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  elsewhere, 
made  of  XXXX  Charcoal  tin,  retinned  after  they  had  been  stamped 
into  shape  by  the  process  observed  by  Mr.  Lanz. 

Some  of  these  utensils,  milk  cans,  separators,  and  other  appli- 
ances had  been  in  use  for  several  years  and  subjected  to  very  much 
the  same  kind  of  banging  round  that  a  soldier  gives  his  canteen, 
but,  in  general,  they  showed  only  slight  traces  of  rust,  even  in  milk- 
vats  submerged  in  moving  water. 

The  different  processes  of  the  coating  of  sheet  metal  goods  and 
articles  of  iron  and  steel  with  zinc — "galvanizing" — them;  also  of 
tinning  malleable  iron,  wrought  iron,  and  steel ;  also  of  retinning  the 
latter ;  in  other  words,  the  methods  of  coating  with  zinc  and  tin  by 
immersion,  are  described  and  explained  by  W.  T.  Flanders,  of 
Nashua,  N.  H.,  in  a  practical  treatise,  edition  1900,  published  by 
David  Williams  Co.,  232-8  William  St.,  N.  Y.  No  description  is 
known  to  me  of  processes  of.  covering  thin  plates  with  aluminum 
of  tin.  The  difficulties  of  a  reliable  solder  would  not  appear  to 
apply  to  such.  If  a  tenacious  coat  of  tin  could  be  applied  to  a  thin 
sheet  of  aluminum  of  requisite  strength,  durability,  etc.,  the  sheets 
of  the  latter  so  coated  can  be  joined  as  securely  as  in  the  present 
regulation  tin  canteen, — it  might  be  an  improvment  upon  the  present 
service  canteen. 

In  a  recent  communication  received  from  the  New  Jersey  Alumi- 
num Company,  of  Newark,  N.  J.,  the  firm  states :  "We  are  for- 
warding you  today  by  express  two  canteens  made  of  aluminum,  and 
all  one  piece,  there  being  no  seam  or  solder  used.  You  will  also 
observe  that  we  have  covered  these  in  a  crude  way  with  felt,  since 
you  advocate  not  sending  them  naked.  Our  principal  object  now 
is  to  find  out  whether  we  have  made  a  canteen  that  will  stand  the  test 
such  as  you  are  liable  to  give  it  and  as  to  whether  we  have  caught 
your  idea  as  to  shape.  These  which  we  sent  you  would  be  the  most 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  145 

convenient  to  make.  What  we  are  after  principally  now  is  to  find 
out  whether  we  have  made  a  canteen  that  will  stand  the  test.  We 
can  readily  make  improvements  as  to  covering  and  stoppers  later  on. 
We  have  spent  some  little  money  to  produce  these  two  samples  and 
we  sincerely  hope  that  they  will  meet  all  requirements.  We  would 
thank  you  to  acknowledge  receipt  and  inform  us  later  what  the 
results  are." 

The  Indian  Aluminum  Company,  Limited,  Manufacturers  and 
Importers  of  Aluminum  Ware,  Mount  Road,  Madras,  British  India, 
write  as  follows : 

"We  have  read  your  letter  in  the  Aluminum  World  of  February, 
1901,  and  as  there  appears  to  be  a  reluctancy  in  coming  forward  on 
the  part  of  some  of  the  American  manufacturers,  we  beg  to  for- 
ward you  a  sample  of  our  2-pint  aluminum  water  bottle.  We  manu- 
facture many  patterns  of  different  sizes,  but  this  is  a  pattern  which 
we  have  supplied  many  regiments  in  India.  It  is  made  out  of  one 
single  piece  of  aluminum,  without  seams  of  any  kind  whatsoever, 
nor  is  it  spun  or  pressed  as  in  the  case  of  the  water  bottle  of  German 
manufacture.  We  have  entirely  superseded  the  German  manufac- 
ture of  water  bottles  in  India,  and  many  officers  have  reported  most 
favorably  on  the  water  bottles  that  we  have  supplied  their  regiments 
with. 

''We  regret  to  state  that  we  do  not  quite  understand  your  method 
of  testing,  but  if  you  will  be  good  enough  to  point  out  any  flaws  in 
the  sample  sent  you,  we  would  esteem  it  a  favor  and  be  quite  pre- 
pared to  remedy  the  defect  in  our  future  supply. 

"We  have  made  these  bottles  on  one  or  two  occasions  of  a  size 
large  enough  to  contain  a  gallon. 

The  Indian  water  bottle  appears  to  be  shaped  like  one  of  the 
cork  sections  of  a  life  preserver  belt.  One  face  is  concave,  so  as  to 
fit  close  to  the  body.  The  outer  face  is  convex.  Ends  are  rounded. 
Top  has  four  ventilating  eyelets.  The  whole  is  covered  with  felt,  or 
felted  cloth,  the  thickness  and  weight  of  which  are  not  described. 
It  is  not  stated  whether  or  not  there  is  an  inner  cover  or  any  sub- 
stance between  the  felted  cloth  and  the  flask.  It  is  provided  with  a 
carbine  hook.  See  cuts  No.  loi-b,  IO2-C.  It  would  be  improved  by 
the  addition  of  an  openable  canvas  cover  over  the  felt  to  retard  evap- 
oration in  hot  weather.  One  pattern  has  a  carry  strap  about  its  mid- 
dle, buttoned  by  overlapping  on  the  outside.  Another  pattern  has  a 
leather  carry  strap  extending  over  its  edges,  also  under  the  bottom. 
The  strap  is  held  in  place  by  four  leather  loops,  the  latter  being 
stitched  to  the  felted  cloth  cover. 


146  HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

The  New  Jersey  Aluminum  Co.,  Newark,  N.  J.,  manifests  activ- 
ity and  submits  two  oblong-shaped  aluminum  canteens,  differing 
only  in  capacity,  of  its  most  recent  manufacture.  No  seams  or 
solder  said  to  be  used.  Method  of  construction  is  not  explained. 
In  this  report  they  are  designated  "MM"  and  "NN"  respectively. 

Canteen  "MM" — Weight  of  naked  flask,  9  and  J  ounces ;  capac- 
ity 42  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  filled,  cover  on  and  dry,  56  ounces, 
avoirdupois. 

Canteen  "NN" — Weight  of  naked  flask,  7  and  J  ounces ;  capac- 
ity, 38  and  \  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  empty,  dry  cover  on,  cork  in, 
8  and  J  ounces,  avoirdupois.  Weight,  filled,  cover  dry,  49  ounces, 
avoirdupois. 

Both  have  removable  single  felt  covers,  laced  up  on  one  side 
only,  Lanz  method ;  high  collar. 


BOARD  OF  ORDNANCE,  FORTIFICATION  AND  EQUIPMENT. 

It  is  submitted  that  the  reports  regarding  canteens  and  the  tests 
made  thereof  by  me  have  shown:  ist.  The  advantages  and  disad- 
vantages of  the  Lanz  Canteen  and  cover  system  as  compared  with 
the  Regulation  Canteen.  2d.  The  advantages  and  disadvantages 
of  the  Lanz  Canteen  system  as  compared  with  other  canteens  differ- 
ing from  it  in  material,  construction,  or  shape.  3d.  The  suitability 
of  the  Lanz  Canteen  for  the  use  of  troops  in  campaign,  in  the  field, 
or  on  the  march. 

If  the  selection  of  a  canteen  rested  with  troops  inured  to  tropical 
service,  it  is  believed  that  they  would  choose  the  Lanz  in  preference 
to  the  Regulation  Canteen  or  to  any  experimental  canteen  now 
under  consideration. 

There  are  certain  obstinate  facts  hard  to  ignore.  One  is  ex- 
pressed tersely  and  comprehensively  by  Captain  Alfred  E.  Bradley, 
Asst.  Surgeon,  Medical  Dept,  U.  S.  A.,  after  a  series  of  tests  made 
at  Fort  Snelling,  Minn.,  of  the  Regulation  Canteen  versus  the  Lanz 
Canteen.  He  writes :  "The  outer  cover  of  the  Regulation  Canteen 
prevents  the  access  of  water  to  the  felt.  The  felt,  not  being  satur- 
ated, loses  its  small  amount  of  water  comparatively  soon,  and,  with 
the  passing  of  evaporation,  the  contents  of  the  canteen  soon  become 
warm.  The  Lanz  Canteen  absorbs  its  water  quickly,  and  its  canvas 
cover,  placed  dry  over  the  wet  felt,  retards  evaporation  and  keeps 
the  contents  cool  for  a  much  longer  period." 

This  statement  of  fact  is,  in  a  nutshell,  a  substantiation  of  the 
majority  of  the  claims  of  the  Lanz  Canteen. 


HISTORY  OF  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN. 


147 


Success  means  the  displacement  of  somebody,  or  something1,  or 
the  survival  of  the  strongest.  Naturally,  the  Department  charged 
with  the  manufacture  and  issue  of  canteens  wants  to  continue  to 
make  the  same.  It  follows  that  tests  and  experiments  with  a  device 
originating  with  any  inventor  should  be  conducted  along  lines  of 
the  Department  rather  than  those  formulated  by  the  inventor  as 
essential  in  order  to  demonstrate  the  superiority  of  his  device. 

The  Board  of  Ordnance,  Fortification  and  Equipment  is  not  cir- 
cumstanced to  conduct  canteen  tests  in  anything  like  the  manner  in 
which  they  would  be  tested  by  a  soldier  in  the  ranks  in  campaign 
time,  in  any  climate,  hot  or  cold. 

The  Board  measurably  relies  upon  tests,  experiments,  etc.,  made 
by  those  whose  facilities,  environments  and  opportunities  enable 
them  to  do  detail  work. 

It  is  recommended  that  the  tests,  experiments  and  recommenda- 
tions regarding  the  Regulation  Canteen  versus  the  Lanz  Canteen, 
and  other  canteens  presented  for  use  in  the  military  service,  or 
reported  by  the  Inspector  General,  Dept.  of  Dakota,  on  dates  in 
September,  October  and  November,  1900,  and  transmitted  to  the 
Inspector  General  of  the  Army,  through  official  channels,  be  referred 
for  the  consideration  of  the  Board  of  Ordnance,  Fortification  and 
Equipment. 


TEST  No.  78. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  canteen  was  full.    All  covers  were  dry.    All  of  the 
canteens  were  suspended  from  a  trestle  so  that  free 
circulation  prevailed. 

A 

AA 

B 

94 

86 
80 

78 
76 

74 
74 
72 
70 
68 

c  c 

E 

H 

L 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

94 
86 
80 
76 
76 
74 
74 
72 
72 
68 

u 

7.-2C  a.  m 

+52 

56 
62 

66 
66 
72 
72 
66 
66 
64 

94 

82 

76 
72 
72 
72 
70 
72 
70 
68 

94 
82 
76 
72 
70 
70 

74 
70 
68 
66 

94 

84 

78 
76 

74 
74 
70 

74 
70 
68 

94 

76 
70 
68 
68 
68 
82 
68 
66 
64 

94 
90 
86 

84 
82 
82 
76 
80 
78 
76 

94 
84 
78 
76 

74 
74 
80 

74 
70 
68 

94 
92 

88 
86 

84 
82 

78 
78 
74 
72 

94 
9° 

84 
82 
78 
78 
78 
74 
72 
70 

94 

11 

82 
80 
80 

74 
76 

72 
70 

80 

7f 
76 

74 
74 
74 
70 
70 

8.  35     "      

Q.T5     " 

10.35     " 

11.^5     " 

12.  ^5  p.  m 

1.  75     " 

2.35     " 

7.7%       " 

4-3S'   "     

148 


HISTORY  OP  TllE   MILITARY   CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.  79. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  canteen  was  full.     All  covers  w 
canteens  were  laid  on  a  stone  (gran 
the  sun,  and  remained  so  exposed 

:re  dry.     All  of  the 
tejwindow  sill,  in 
for  nine  (9)  hours. 

A 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

H 

L 

Q 

R 

s 

T   j  U 

7  40  am     » 

*64 

66 

68 

72 

1 

86 
82 

74 

60 

64 
64 

68 
72 
74 
76 
78 
80 
80 

60 

64 
64 

68 
72 
74 
76 
78 
80 
80 

60 
62 
64 

66 
70 

M 

78 
80 
80 

60 
62 

62 

64 
68 
70 
74 
76 
78 
78 

60 

66 
66 
70 
74 
76 
80 
82 
80 
78 

60 
62 
62 
64 

66 
68 
70 

72 
72 

72 

60 

64 

66 
68 
72 
76 
78 
80 
82 
80 

60 

62 
64 
66 
68 

72 

74 
76 
76 
76 

60 
62 
64 

66 
70 

72 

74 
76 

78 
78 

60 

64 
64 

66 
68 
72 
74 
76 
78 
78 

60    60 
62     62 

64     64 

66    66 
68    68 
72    72 
74    76 
76    78 
78    78 
80   78 

8.40     " 

0.4.0     " 

10.40     '       

11.40     "     

12.40    p     ill 

1.  4O       "        

2.4O       " 

7.4.O       " 

4-40       "        

TEST  No.   80. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  canteen  was  full.     All  felt  covers  were  wet.     Can- 
vas covers  were  not  immersed. 

A 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

H 

L 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

U 

1° 

62 
62 
62 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 

7  TC  a    m 

t66 

68 
76 

78 
78 
80 
78 
72 
72 
72 

£ 

60 
62 

62 
64 

68 
72 
72 

72 

50 
58 
60 
60 
62 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 

50 
58 
62 
62 
62 
62 
62 
62 
60 

58 

5o 

58 
58 
60 
60 

62 
62 
60 
58 

58 

5° 
60 
72 
76 
76 
76 
76 
76 

74 
72 

5° 

54 
56 
f 
60 
62 
64 
64 
64 
64 

50 

58 
62 

64 
64 
64 

64 
64 
64 
64 

50 
56 
f 
60 
62 
62 
62 
62 
60 
58 

50 

54 

g 

62 

66 
66 
62 
62 
62 

5° 
54 

f 
60 

62 
64 
64 
64 
64 

64 

50 

IS 

60 
60 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 

8.^q     " 

Q  ^      " 

JO  7C      " 

II.  "«    " 

12.  "\^\  D   in 

I.-2C        "         

2.n    " 

i  is 

4-35    "     

TEST  No.   81. 


Honr. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  canteen  was  filled.     All  felt,  or 
The  canteens  were  suspended  from 
L  of  the  Army  Building,  St.  Pat. 
tact.     Free  circulation  of  air  preva 

other  covers  were  wet. 
a  trestle  placed  on  the 
,  Minn.     Not  in  con- 
iled. 

A 

46 
64 

66 
64 
62 
68 

M 

76 

74 

A  A 

B 

46 
58 
64 
64 
62 
60 
62 
62 
60 
58 

C  C 

E 

~t 
64 

74 

^ 

76 

78 
82 

78 

74 
74 

H 

L 

MM 

Q 

46 

58 
62 
64 
60 
62 
60 
60 
58 
58 

R 

S 

T 

u 

7.40  a.m  

8  4.0      " 

+72 

82 

84 
84 
80 
84 
84 

74 
74 
74 

46 
60 
64 
64 
62 
60 
62 

64 
62 

58 

46 
60 

66 
66 
62 
62 
60 
60 
60 
63 

46 

54 

g 

62 

64 
64 
64 

64 
62 

46 
60 
64 
64 
62 
62 
64 

64 
64 

68 

f 
64 

66 
66 
64 
64 
66 
66 
68 
68 

46 
f 
62 

64 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 
60 

46 
60 

64 
62 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 
60 

46 
60 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 
60 
60 

58 

46 
60 
64 
64 
62 
62 
62 
60 
60 
60 

9.  4.O      "     . 

T- 
IO  4O 

1  1  40      " 

12.40  p.  in          

I  4.0      " 

2  4.O      " 

-3.  40      "      

4-40      "      

HISTORY  OF  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN. 

TEST  No.  82. 


149 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  canteen  was  filled.     Canteens  "A"—  Regulation—  and 
"Q,"  also    "R"  and   "S"  —  Lanz  —  had  dry  covers.     All 
other  canteens  were  immersed  for  ten  (10)  minutes.  Open- 
able   canvas  covers  were  not  immersed.     All  of  the  can- 
teens were  laid  on  a  stone  (granite    window  sill  in  the  sun 
and  remained  so  exposed  for  nine  (9)  hours. 

A 

48 
58 
64 
72 
78 
82 

84 

86 
86 
86 

A  A 

^8 

f 
60 

64 
66 

70 
74 
78 
82 
84 

B 

c  c 

E 

H 

L 

48 
56 
60 
62 

66 
70 
76 

80 
82 
82 

MM 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

48 
56 

f 
62 

64 
68 
70 
70 
70 
70 

7  AS  a  m 

+68 
72 
76 

78 
80 
82 
84 
84 
82 
80 

48 

£ 

62 
66 
68 
68 
72 
72 
74 

48 
f 

60 

62 
64 

66 

68 
72 
76 
76 

48 
64 

72 

£ 

Si 

86 
86 
84 

48 
56 
58 

& 

64 
64 

66 

68 
68 

48 

I8 
62 

64 

68 
72 
78 
82 
86 
84 

48 

11 

60 

64 
68 
72 
76 

11 

48 

54 

I8 
62 

66 
70 
74 
76 
76 
76 

48 
54 
56 
62 
66 
70 
72 

74 
76 
76 

48 

t 
62 

66 

63 
7o 

72 
72 
70 

8  AS       "      . 

9    A  C         " 

•TJ     ..    

jo  /iC 

U,4.C       " 

12  AS    T3  III                ... 

I  AS       " 

2  AC      « 

IAC       « 

4-45     "    

TEST  No.  83. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Each  can 
for  ten 
not  imi 
from  a 
Buildir 
(§)  hou 

teen  was  filled.      All  canteens  were  immersed 
10)  minutes.     Removable  canvas  covers  were 
nersed.     All  of  the  canteens  were  suspended 
trestle  placed  in  the  sun  on  the  roof  of  the  Army 
ig,  St.  Paul,  and  remained  so  exposed  for  eight 
rs. 

A 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

£ 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

62 

68 
68 
68 
62 

7  AS  a.,  m 

*lo 

78 
78 
84 
88 
88 
78 
72 

50 
62 
64 

66 
68 
70 

74 
78 
78 

50 
62 

64 

66 
66 
68 
70 
68 
66 

5° 
62 

64 
66 
66 
68 
68 
68 
64 

62 
64 

64 
66 
66 
68 
66 
62 

50 
66 
70 
76 
80 
86 
86 
84 
80 

5° 

62 

64 
66 
66 
70 
70 
70 
70 

5° 
62 
64 
66 
68 
70 
70 
70 
66 

64 
68 
68 
70 
68 
64 

50 
58 
62 
62 

66 
68 
70 
70 
68 

50 

62 

64 

66 
66 
68 
68 
68 
64 

50 
62 
64 

66 
68 
70 
68 
68 
64 

8  AS    " 

9.45     "     

IO  AS      " 

1  1  -AS      " 

12.  AS  P.  ni 

I   AS       " 

2  AS      " 

3-45    "     

TEST  No.   84. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  of  the  canteens  were  filled.     Each  canteen  was  im- 
mersed for  ten  do)  minutes.    Openable  canvas  covers 
were  not  immersed    Allof  the  canteens  were  then  laid 
on  a  stone  (granite)  window  sill  in  the  sun,  on  the  roof 
of  the  Army  Building,  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and  remained 
so  exposed  for  nine  (9)  hours. 

A 

A  A 

5° 
60 
66 
70 
70 
72 
72 

74 
76 

78 

B 

C  C 

£ 

5° 
64 

72 
82 
88 
92 
86 
86 
86 
84 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

50 
58 
62 
66 
70 
74 
74 
74 
76 
76 

s 

5° 
f 
62 
66 
68 
72 
72 
72 
74 
74 

T 

50 
58 
64 

68 
70 

72 
70 
72 
72 
72 

u 

Is 

62 
66 
68 
70 
70 
72 
72 
72 

8.  1  S  3-  ni          .         ... 

+70 

72 
82 
88 
84 
84 
80 
84 
84 
80 

5° 
62 
68 
72 
72 
76 
80 
82 
84 
84 

64 
70 
70 
72 
70 
72 
72 
72 

50 

60 

64 

68 
70 
70 
70 
72 
72 
72 

£ 

64 

68 
70 
74 
76 
78 
80 
80 

5O 
62 

66 

72 

74 

$ 

£ 

82 

50 

f 
62 

66 
68 
72 
72 
72 
74 
74 

Q  I  S      " 

10.  15     '      

1  1  .  1  S      " 

12  I  S  p   in 

I  .  I  S     " 

2.  1C      "                      

•7   T  r       " 

A.  1C        "                

5-15        "         

HISTORY  OF  THE  MILITARY  CANTEEN. 

TEST  No.  85. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  of  the  canteeus  were   filled.     Each  canteen  was  im- 
mersed for  ten  (10)  minutes.    Openable  canvas  covers 
were  not  immersed.     All  of  the   canteens  were  then 
suspended  from  a  trestle  in   the   sun,  exposed  on  the 
roof  of  the  L  of  Army  Building,  St.  Paul,  Minn. 

A 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

s 

T 

u 

7.45  a.  m  

+80 

86 
92 
94 

100 
100 
100 
IOO 

92 
90 

50 

68 
70 

72 

74 
82 
90 
94 
98 
98 

50 

64 

68 
70 

72 
72 
78 
82 
86 
90 

50 

66 
70 

72 
72 

76 
76 

78 
76 

78 

5o 
64 

68 
72 
72 
72 
72 
74 
74 
74 

50 

68 
80 
86 

88 

94 

98 

IOO 
102 
IOO 

5° 
66 
70 

72 
74 
78 
82 

9° 
92 

94 

50 

66 
70 

72 
74 
74 
78 
84 
88 
90 

50 
62 
66 
70 
72 
74 
74 
76 
80 
78 

|0 
60 
64 

68 
70 
76 
76 
80 
82 
82 

i° 

66 
70 

74 
76 
76 
80 
80 
80 

i: 

68 
70 
72 
72 
74 
76 
76 

74 

5° 
62 
66 
70 
72 

74 
76 
78 
80 
78 

8.4.1;     " 

Q.4.C       " 

lO.A1^       "       

II.  4^      " 

12.45  p.  m  

1-4?     " 

2.41;  " 

7.4C       " 

4-45     "     

TEST  No.  86. 


Hour. 
7.45  a.  m  

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions  :     Same  as  in  preceding  Test  —  No.  85. 

A 

^8 
68 
72 
74 
78 
88 

94 
98 
98 
96 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

L 

MM 

^8 
68 
74 
76 
78 
80 
82 
88 
92 
92 

Q 

^8 
64 
68 
72 
74 
76 
78 
78 
80 
80 

R 

"? 
60 

66 
70 
74 
78 
80 
82 
82 
82 

s 

T 

"48 
64 
70 
72 
76 
78 
82 
82 
82 
80 

U 

48 
60 

66 
70 

M 

80 

82 

84 
82 

+86 
9° 

92 
96 

98 
104 
104 
104 
94 
94 

48 

66 
68 
72 

74 
76 
80 
88 
92 
94 

48 

66 
70 

72 

74 
76 
78 
78 
78 
78 

48 
68 
70 
74 
74 

% 

11 

78 

48 
70 
80 

88 
94 

IOO 
102 
102 

98 

94 

48 

68 
70 
74 
76 
80 
84 
90 
96 

94 

48 
62 
66 
70 
72 

\l 
g 

80 

8.41;     " 

Q.4.C      " 

IO.4H      " 

11.45      "       

12.45  p.  m.               

I-4S      " 

2.4.S      " 

7.4C      " 

4-45     '       

TEST  No.  87. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  of  the  canteens  were  filled.    All  of  the  canteens  were 
immersed,  both  covers  on,  for  ten  (10)  minutes  before 
being  exposed  to   the   sun,   suspended  from  a  trestle 
placed  on  the  roof  of  the  L  of  the  Army  Building,  St. 
Paul,  Minn. 

A 

A  A 

B 

50 
62 

68 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 
70 

c  c 

E 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

50 
60 
64 

66 
68 
72 
74 
74 
76 
76 

s 

T 

5° 
62 
68 
68 
70 
70 
70 
72 
70 
68 

u 

5° 
62 

64 
66 
68 
70 
70 
72 
74 
74 

7.4^  a.  m.. 

+78 
80 
84 

88 
88 
90 
90 
88 
80 
So 

5° 

66 
70 

70 

76 
80 
86 
88 
86 
84 

5° 

64 

68 
68 
68 
68 

% 

78 

78 

5° 

64 
66 
68 
68 
68 
68 
68 
72 
72 

50 

74 
82 
88 
88 
92 
92 
90 
86 
84 

50 

66 
70 
70 
72 

H 

84 
82 
82 

50 
64 
70 
70 
70 
72 
80 

86 

86 
84 

50 
60 
64 

66 
68 
68 
68 
70 
72 
72 

^8 

64 

66 
70 
70 
70 

72 
72 
72 

8.4S     " 

0.4.  S      " 

y  TO         

10.41;    " 

ii.  4=;    " 

I2.A<  p   m 

I.4C     "      

2.4^          " 

^.4<;    " 

4-45     ' 

HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.   88. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions  same  as  in  Test  No.  87. 

A 
50 

54 

58 
62 
68 
76 
80 
82 
82 

A  A 
50 

1 
f 

60 
64 

68 

72 
72 

B 

C  C 

50 

58 

i 

66 
68 

E 

L 

MM 
50 

r 

60 
60 

66 
72 

76 
76 

Q 

50 

54 
54 
56 
58 

58 
60 
62 
64 

Oil 

R 

s 

50 
54 

54 
56 

62 
66 
66 
66 

T 

u 

11 

70 
72 
78 
80 
80 

78 
76 
76 

ON  ON  ON  ON  ONOn  On  On  On  On 
4^-f^tOtoOOOONONtOO 

1° 
64 

70 
72 
78 
80 
82 
82 
82 
80 

50 

f 
60 
62 
68 
74 
76 
76 

50 

54 

I 

62 
64 
66 
66 

50 

54 

58 
58 
62 
62 
62 

50 
54 
56 
56 

60 
62 

64 

04 

8  45     "           

Q  A  r      " 

10.  AC      " 

II  AC      " 

12  45  p    m 

2  AC      " 

3  AC       " 

4  4j 

TEST  No.   89. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  openable  canvas  covers  were  removed  before  immers- 
ing the  felt  covered  canteens  for  ten  (10)  minutes.  The 
dry  canvas  covers  were   then   replaced   over  the  wet 
felt  and  canteens  exposed  same  as  in  Test  No.  88. 

A 

A  A 

50 

f 
60 

62 
62 
64 

66 
68 
70 
70 

B 

Te 
g 

62 
64 

66 
66 
68 
68 

c  c 

50 

58 

& 

62 
66 
66 
66 
66 
66 

E 

50 

66 
70 

i 

86 
86 
88 
86 

L 

MM 

50 

f 
60 

62 
64 

66 
68 
7o 
76 

78 

Q 

50 

54 
56 

? 
60 

66 
68 
70 

72 
74 

R 

5° 
62 
62 
62 
64 
66 
68 
70 
72 
72 

s 

T 

50 

& 

62 
64 
66 
68 
68 
70 
70 

u 

+64 
66 

72 
72 
82 
82 

88 
82 
82 
80 

5° 
f 
60 
62 
64 

68 

74 
78 
82 
82 

58 

6O 
62 
64 

66 
70 

70 
76 

78 

50 
54 
58 

66 
68 
70 
70 

72 

5° 
56 
58 
58 
60 
66 
68 
68 
68 
68 

8  40    " 

94.O        " 

IO.4.O        " 

I  I  4.O      " 

12.40  p.  m  

1  .  4.O      " 

">  4O      " 

'vAO      " 

4-40      "       

TEST  No.   90. 


Hour. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Canvas  and  felt  covers  immersed  for   ten    (10)    minutes 
before  commencing  test. 

A    A  A 

B 

C  C 

E 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

U 

7.4C  a.  m. 

+62 
62 

64 
60 
62 
60 
62 
64 

66 
64 

56 
58 
58 
58 
58 
58 
60 
60 

52 
56 

1 

58 
60 
60 

On  ONOn  On  On  On  On  On  On  On 

00  O  00  00  ON  ON  ON  ON-**,  to 

52 

54 

56 
56 

58 
58 

52 

f 
62 

58 
62 
62 
62 
60 
62 
64 

ON  ON  ONOn  On  On  On  On  On  On 

O  O  O  00  oc  oo  oo  ON-£.  to 

On  ON  ONOv  On  On  On  On  On  On 

OOO  O  OOOOGCONONONIO 

52 
52 

54 
56 
56 
56 
58 
58 
58 
60 

ONOn  OnOnOnOnOnOnOnOn 

O  OO  OO  ON  ON  ON  ON  ON-f^  to 

ON  ONOi  On  On  On  On  On  On  On 

O  O  00  00  ON  ON  ON  ON  (0  tO 

On  ONOn  On  On  On  On  On  On  On 

00  O  00  OO  ON  ON  ON  ON-F>-  to 

52 

54 
54 
56 
56 
56 
58 
58 
58 
58 

S.AC      " 

Q  4.C      " 

IO.AC      "            

1  1  AC      " 

12  45  p   m 

2.4C      " 

4-45     "     

HISTORY    OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


TEST  No.  91. 


Hour. 


8.00  a.  m. 

9.00    "     . 
10.00    " 
ii.oo    "     . 
12.00    m.    . 

i.oo  p.  m. 

2.00      "       . 

4.00    " 

5.00  "    . 


Outside 
Tempera  tvre. 


+72 
76 
80 
84 
84 
86 
84 
84 
86 
88 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 


All  canvas  covers  removed  before  immersing  canteens 
for  ten  (10)  minutes.  Canvas  covers  then  replaced 
over  wet  felt,  before  commencement  of  test. 


A    A  A 


C  C 


MM 

52 

f 
64 

66 
68 
68 
68 
68 
70 
70 


52     52 


62 


62 


641  64 
66    68 


68|  72 


58 

62 
64 
66 
68 
70 
70 
72 


TEST  No.  92. 


Hour. 


8.00  a.  m 

9.00     "     .... 

10.00     "     

ii.oo    "     

12.00    m-   ... 
i.oo  p.  m. ... 

2.00    "     

3.00     "     .... 

4.00    "      

5.00     "     .... 


Outside 
Temperature. 


68 
70 
70 
62 


60 

58 
58 
62 


Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Both  canvas  outer,  and  felt  inner  covers  immersed  for 
ten  (ro)  minutes  before  commencement  of  test. 


AAABCCE       L     MM     Q 


50 


50 


62 

58 
S^ 

54 

52 
52 
52 


TEST  No.  93. 


Hour. 
9.00  a.  m  

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  canteens  filled  and  covers  dry. 

A 

52 
60 

72 
82 

86 
90 
92 
90 

88 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

52 
64 
80 

88 
92 
96 

94 
90 
90 

L 

MM 

li 

72 

78 

86 
90 
92 
90 
90 

Q 

"i 

64 
7o 

74 
80 
82 
84 
84 

R 

52 

58 

66 

M 

80 

82 
84 
84 

s 

52 
58 
66 
70 
76 
So 
82 
84 
84 

T 

P 

66 
70 
76 
80 

84 

u 

52 
58 
66 
70 
76 
80 
84 
84 
86 

Y*     ZT 

+82 

84 
90 
92 
100 
98 
92 
90 
90 

52 
62 

70 

78 

86 
90 
90 
90 
90 

£ 

68 

74 
82 
86 
90 
90 
90 

n 

68 
76 
82 
88 
90 
90 
88 

£ 

70 
78 
86 
90 
90 
90 
90 

I2  I2 

64  64 

74    72 
80    78 
84    84 
88    86 
86    84 
86   86 
86   86 

IO  OO      "        

II.OO      " 

12.00  m  

1  .00  p.  m 

2  OO       " 

•3    OO          " 

4.00     " 

S-oo     "   

HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 
TEST  No.   94. 


153 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

All  canteens  filled  and  covers  dry  except  Canteen  "T,"  the 
covers  of  which  wene  wet. 

A 

V  A 

B 

54 
62 
70 

72 
74 
74 
74 
74 
76 
76 

c  c 

54 
62 
68 

£ 

74 
74 
74 

% 

E 

L 

54 
64 
70 
74 
76 

\\ 

88 
92 

MM    Q 

R 

s 

T 

"i 

68 
70 

72 
74 
74 
74 
76 
74 

u 

54 
62 
66 

72 
72 
74 
74 
74 
76 
78 

Y* 

54 
64 
72 
80 
82 
86 
88 
90 
90 
92 

zf 

+82 

86 

100 
100 
IOO 

96 

98 

IOO 

98 

92 

54 
64 
70 

72 
72 

11 

86 
996 

54 
62 

68 
72 
72 
74 
74 
78 
82 
86 

54 
68 

78 
88 

9° 
94 
94 
96 
96 
96 

54  54 
66  62 
72|  68 
74|  72 
76  74 
76;  76 
76!  76 
80  76 
88;  78 
92!  78 

8 

64 

68 
7« 

^ 
76 

78 
80 
82 

£ 

68 
70 

72 
74 
74 
76 

78 
78 

54 
64 

72 
78 
82 
86 
86 
90 
90 
90 

8  4.0    " 

9A.O      " 

10  40    " 

II  AO      "      . 

I  2  40  P     111                      .... 

I  4O      " 

2  4.0      "      . 

1  AO      " 

4-40      "      

TEST  No.  95. 


Hour. 

Out- 
side 
Temp. 

Temperature  of  Water  in  Canteens. 

Conditions:     Same  as  in  Test  No.  94. 

A 

54 
70 

% 
78 
82 
88 
94 
96 
96 

A  A 

B 

c  c 

E 

L 

MM 

Q 

R 

S 

T 

u 

Y* 

zt 

7.30  a.  m  
8  30     "    

+86 
92 
IOO 

IOO 

104 

104 

104 

IOO 

96 

92 

54 

M 

78 
78 
78 
78 
82 

84 

86 

54 
68 
72 
78 
78 
78 
78 
78 
76 
76 

54 
68 

H 

76 
76 
78 
78 
74 
76 

54 

72 

78 
84 
96 
98 

100 
IOO 

98 
96 

54 

72 

74 
78 
80 
80 
82 
84 
90 
90 

54 
72 
74 
78 
80 
80 
80 
84 
90 
92 

54 
70 

74 
76 

76 
76 
78 
78 
76 
76 

£ 

70 

72 
78 
80 
80 
82 
82 
84 

S 

68 

72 
76 
78 
78 
78 
80 
78 

It 

72 
76 

78 
78 
78 
78 
76 
76 

£ 

72 
76 
76 
76 
78 
80 
76 
78 

& 

11 
86 
90 
92 
92 
92 
92 

8 

11 

84 
88 
90 
90 
92 
90 

Q  1O      " 

IO  ^O      " 

1  1    TO      "      . 

I  ">   ^O  p     111 

1.  10      "      . 

2   ^O      " 

1  1O      " 

4-30      "      

^DESCRIPTION  OF  CANTEEN  "Y."— From  Messrs.  Hermann,  Schutte  &  Co.,  Cannstatt  a  Necker. 
Germany.  Aluminum,  99%  pure,  drawn  and  pressed  out  of  one  solid  piece.  Mouthpiece,  two 
pressed  parts.  No  cover.  Weight  of  flask,  8^  ozs.  Capacity,  46  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  filled, 
57*4  ounces,  avoirdupois. 

tDESCRlPTlON  OF  CANTEEN  "Z." — Circular  Aluminum  flask,  made  by  the  Griswold  Manufactur- 
ing Co.,  Erie,  Pa.  Cast,  including  lug,  from  a  wood  pattern  and  wood  core  box.  No  cover.  Weight 
of  flask,  17-%  ounces.  Capacity,  52  fluid  ounces.  Weight,  filled,  72  ounces. 


154 


HISTORY    OF    Tilt:    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


RECORD  OF  CANTEEN  "F." 

Synopsis  of  tests,  open-air,- made  at  Headquarters,  Department  of  Dakota,  St. 
Paul,  Minn.,  of  the  Newark,  N.  J.  Aluminum  Flask — Circular  Canteen;  no  solder  said 
to  be  used:  Covered  by  the  Lanz  method  with  ^-inch  felt;  openable  canvas  cover. 
Capacity,  44  ounces.  Weight  16  ounces.  Termed  in  this  monograph,  Canteen  "F. " 

No.  of  Tests ." 33.       Frozen  in  Test  No.  30;  also  in  No.  38. 

Test  No.  33, leakage  first  noticed.       Test  No.   38 leakage  established. 


No.  of 
Test. 

. 

Outside 
Temperature. 

Temperature  of 
Water  in  Canteen. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

Maximum. 

Minimum. 

30 

+  8 

+  7 

+  54 

+  32 

Frozen  withdrawn. 

31 

12 

10 

52 

32 

32 

14 

14 

56 

32 

33 

23 

20 

112 

32 

Leaked  after  first  hour. 

34 

34 

32 

no 

44 

35 

32 

116 

48 

36 

32 

25 

116 

42 

37 

40 

22 

1  16 

52 

38 

36 

32 

100 

48      Leaked. 

39 

42 

38 

94 

52 

" 

40 

H 

12 

96 

32 

" 

41 

28 

10 

98 

36 

" 

42 

26 

22 

94 

32 

•• 

43 

12 

4 

94 

32 

" 

44 

34 

14 

1  06 

38 

" 

$ 

-  2 

Zero. 

-10 
10 

74 

102 

32 
32 

47 

+28 

+  14 

90 

34 

48 

18 

H 

80 

32      Frozen. 

49 

18 

8 

I3O 

.  34      Leaky. 

24 

4 

50 

32 

51 

16 

S 

56 

32 

52 

H 

2 

I78 

32 

" 

53 

28 

18 

1  68 

38 

54 

30 

22 

170 

44 

55 

22 

8 

52 

32 

56 

38 

24 

50 

38 

57 

42 

32 

52 

42 

58 

18 

12 

54 

32 

" 

59 

2 

-  4 

52 

32 

" 

60 

20 

'+  2 

170 

38 

u 

61 

20 

Zero. 

172 

32 

" 

62 

22 

20 

168 

32 

" 

Highest... 

+  42 

-10 

+  178 

+  32 

The  record  of  Canteen  "F,"  covering  a  period  of  thirty-four  (34)  days,  is  given  in 
extenso  in  order  to  illustrate,  practically,  the  thoroughness  with  which  all  tests  were 
conducted.  My  tests  were  not  based  on  any  theory.  My  recommendations  have  been 
based  upon  the  results  of  numerous  tests  under  varying  conditions. 

Aluminum  and  its  alloys  is  such  a  satisfactory  metal  to  make  canteen  flasks  of — if 
the  metal  could  be  satisfactorily  soldered — that  I  part  with  it  with  reluctance.  The 
aluminum  manufacturers  have  not  yet,  to  my  knowledge,  succeeded  in  making  a  canteen 
flask  that  will  meet  the  requirements  of  the  military  service. 


HISTORY    01'    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  155 

A  COMPARISON. 

THE  REGULATION  VERSUS  THE  LAN/  CANTEEN. 

Thought  was  applied  and  experiments  conducted  in  the  U.  S. 
Army  more  than  a  quarter  o.f  a  century  ago  to  the  solution  of  the 
question  of  how  to  keep  water  in  a  tin  canteen  palatable  in  a  hot 
region.  It  resolved  itself  into  the  adoption  of  the  present  Regula- 
tion Canteen.  The  formation  of  judgment  regarding  a  canteen 
suitable  for  military  use  is  slow  work.  It  is  easy  to  arrive  at  a  con- 
clusion regarding  a  device  that  is  merely  a  receptacle  to  hold  liquids 
in  for  the  consumption  of  tourists,  sportsmen,  and  bicyclists,  on  a 
summer  outing.  My  conclusions  are  that  the  Regulation  Canteen 
fails  to  secure  the  benefits  of  a  prolonged  evaporative  action  for  as 
long  a  time  as  the  Lanz  Canteen  does.  The  Lanz  Canteen  prevents 
rapid  changes  of  temperature  of  its  contents.  Its  shape  and 
method  of  construction, — both  as  regards  the  metallic  flask  and  its 
components,  the  covers, — differ  from  other  canteens.  The  means, 
methods  and  principles  involved,  physical,  mechanical  and  rational, 
are  elsewhere  described  in  this  monograph.  In  cold  weather,  the 
dry  felt  is  an  effective  non-conductor  of  heat.  In  hot  weather  the 
saturated — canvas  encased — cover  of  all-wool  felt  applied  to  the 
filled  metallic  flask  continues  moist  for  a  number  of  hours  longer 
than  any  other  canteen,  hence  possesses  the  merit  of  keeping  the 
fluid  contents  cool  and  rehshable  for  a  maximum  period. 

A  defect  of  the  Regulation  Canteen  is  that  it  is  impracticable 
to  easily  thoroughly  saturate  the  inner  felt,  or  Petersham,  cover. 
After  a  little  field  service,  the  outer  canvas  cover  accumulates 
grease,  dirt,  etc.,  to  such  an  extent  as  to  become  nearly  water-proof, 
despite  immersion  ;  hence  there  is  little  cooling  action  by  evapora- 
tion. Herein  one  of  the  advantages  of  the  Lanz  Canteen  applies, 
because  it  has  an  openable  cover,  whereas  the  Regulation  cover  is 
permanently  attached,  unless  the  stitches  are  cut. 

The  musket  carried  by  our  army  during  the  civil  war  period, 
1861-5,  could  put  an  enemy  out  of  action  at  a  range  of  600  yards, 
but  the  effective  range  of  the  Springfield  muzzle-loader  was  limited 
as  compared  with  the  Cal.  30  U.  S.  Magazine  Rifle,  sheathed  pro- 
jectile, with  which  our  troops  are  now  armed.  The  energy  and 
penetration  of  the  latter  at  a  range  in  excess  of  two  miles  is  known. 
The  determination  of  the  relative  merits  of  the  old  caliber  .45  small 
firearm  of  projection,  as  compared  with  the  rifle  at  present  in  the 
hands  of  our  soldiers,  should  not  rest  upon  the  limitations  of  the 
Springfield,  but  upon  the  far-reaching  powers  of  the  Krag-Jorgenson. 


I5h  HISTORY    OF    T.HK    MILITARY    CAXTEKtf. 

As  il  is  with  firearms,  so  it  is  with  canteens. 

For  a  number  of  hours,  say,  six,  the  Regulation  Canteen  will, 
under  ordinary  circumstances  and  moderately  uniform  temperature, 
keep  water  as  cool  as  the  Lanz ;  but,  after  the  water  absorbed  by 
the  covers  of  the  Regulation  Canteen  has  evaporated  and  the  con- 
tents thus  begun  to  rise  in  temperature,  the  Lanz  Canteen  will  con- 
tinue to  keep  its  contents  at  a  lower,  therefore  more  relishable,  tem- 
perature than  the  Regulation  Canteen. 


for  Cant  tens.    &&rfAt/HCCe  .  frra.de  in  for  As  rube, 
,  Germany,   far/?i3/red  fior  test  6y  the  Lowz.  Canteen  Co., 

Chicago,  111. 


A  full  and  impartial  consideration  of  the  merits  of  a  canteen 
intended  for  use  in  the  field,  during  a  campaign,  or  on  the  march, 
cannot  be  said  to  have  been  effected  until  the  canteen  has  been  given 
exhaustive  tests  assimilating  to  such  practical  tests  as  would  be  given 
it  by  soldiers  in  any  climate,  hot  or  cold. 

My  official  reports  show  that  I  have  given  numerous  canteens 
these  tests  in  environments  of  outside  temperature  varying  from 
minus  ten  (10)  degrees  F.  to  plus  one  hundred  and  twenty-five 
(125)  degrees  F. 

My  conclusion  and  recommendation  is  that  the  Lanz  Canteen 
warrants  a  trial  with  a  view  to  its  adoption  in  the  U '.  S.  Army. 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 


157 


Factors  to  be  taken  into  consideration  in  the  selection  of  a  Can- 
teen intended  for  use  in  the  Military  Service. 


Aluminum. 


'   Spun. 
Cast. 
Pressed. 
Stamped. 
Welded. 
Rolled,  or  Sheet,   Metal. 


M  \TERIAL 

Tin. 

Ebonite. 

\ 

Wood. 

Enameled  Metal. 

Tinned            " 

Galvanized     " 

^  Other  Metals. 

/• 

r  Side  Pieces,  Ears  or 

Single  Piece    

* 

Construction  .  . 

Loops,  attached  to  flask. 

Joined  Pieces  

Loops  attached  to  Cover. 

f  Oval 

Concave-convex  faces 

Oblong.. 

Covex  faces. 

Gourd 

Cylindrical. 

Shape 

Bottle  shaped  

Flat. 

Circular  

One  face  flat,  opposite 

I 

face  curved. 

Durability. 

Flask                         <{ 

\\T     •     i   . 

CANTEEN  -<. 

vv  eignt. 

Capacity. 

All-wool  Felt. 

' 

Inside  Cover  * 

Felted  Cloth. 

Sponge  Cloth. 

(  '.omponents.  .  .     - 

Duck,  or  Canvas. 

Outside  Cover...    1 
' 

Any  textile  fabric. 

Leather. 

-  Mouth  Piece. 
Stopper. 
Chain. 
'.    Triangles,  or  Side  Pieces. 


Queries. 

Can  air-pressure  be  utilized  in  lieu  of  the  inside  water-pressure  used,  as  stated  by 
the  Pittsburgh  Reduction  Co.,  in  shaping  spun  aluminum  canteen  flasks? 

Will  a  cast  aluminum  flask  prove  as  durable  as  a  flask  of  spun  aluminum? 

How  can  triangles,  ears,  lugs,  or  rings  be  substantially  fastened  at  the  sides  of  an 
aluminum  flask,  and  thus  do  away  with  a  strap  around  the  cover? 

By  what  method  is  the  Canteen  Flask  made? 


I5&  HISTORY   OF   THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

"Uber  Feldflaschen  und  Kochgeschirre  aus  Aluminum.  1m  Augt- 
rage  des  k.  Kriegsministeriums  bearbeitet  von  Dr.  Plagge,  Stabsarzt, 
und  Georg  Lebbin,  Chemiker.  (Canteen  and  cooking  utensils  of 
aluminum.  Prepared  by  direction  of  the  war  ministry  by  Dr. 
Plagge,  staff  surgeon,  and  George  Lebbin,  chemist.)  100  pp.  Ber- 
lin, 1893"  :— 

EXTRACT. 

"Three  kinds  of  tests  : 

(1)  Rough,  practical  usefulness. 

(2)  Durability,  wearing  qualities  and  cost  from  an  eco- 
nomical point  of  view. 

(3)  Question  of  hygiene  and  harmfulness  or  harmlessness 
of  aluminum  vessels. 

.  The  final  result  of  these  tests  and  trials  amount  to  this :  That 
neither  from  a  practical  nor  from  an  economical  point  of  view 
essential  arguments  against  the  feasibility  of  using  aluminum  field 
flasks  exist,  and  that  from  a  sanitary  standpoint  such  flasks  can  be 
utilized  without  the  least  hesitation. 

*  :•:  #  :•:  *  *  *  #  * 

Regarding  the  rough  practical  usefulness,  the  question  arises 
whether  or  not  the  taste  of  the  fluid  contained  in  the  aluminum 
flask  is  in  any  way  changed.  This  is  not  the  case.  Neither  water, 
nor  coffee,  nor  water  mixed  with  vinegar;  beer,  wine,  brandy  (cog- 
nac) and  other  spirituous  liquors,  lemonade,  etc.,  show  a  change 
in  taste,  particularly  no  after-taste  of  aluminum,  even  after  the  con- 
tents had  remained  in  the  flask  for  a  week. 

Although  a  change  in  the  taste  of  the  contents  of  a  properly 
cleaned  aluminum  flask  does  not  occur,  there  are  some  liquids  which 
appear  to  be  unsuited  to  be  kept  for  any  length  of  time  in  such 
flasks.  They  become  cloudy  or  muddy  and  cause  the  formation  of 
spots  or  stains.  Among  them  are,  as  practical  tests  in  the  army  have 
demonstrated,  brandy  (cognac)  which,  after  only  twenty-four 
hours'  preservation  in  the  flask,  particularly  in  a  warm  temperature, 
caused  the  formation  of  peculiar  dark  brown  spots  or  stains  on  the 
inside  of  the  flask. 

In  order  to  determine  the  nature  of  the  spots,  tests  were  made 
with  various  liquors,  i.  e.,  three  kinds  of  cognac,  two  kinds  of 
Nordhauser  (corn  whisky),  herb  liquor,  Dantzig  Goldwater  and 

Kuemmel. 

********* 

These  experiments  proved  that  aluminum  flasks  are  not  adapted 
for  a  lengthy  preservation  of  such  liquids  as  cognac,  etc.,  which, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  159 

although  not  losing  particularly  in  taste,  lose  their  appetizing  quali- 
ties by  becoming  clouded,  the  discoloration  being  caused  by  loosen- 
ing of  the  stains  from  the  flask  and  mixing  with  the  liquor. 

This,  however,  hardly  impairs  the  practical  usefulness  of  the 
aluminum  flask  for  the  army.  A  soldier  generally  carries  coffee  or 
water  in  his  flask,  not  liquor,  the  latter  being,  particularly  on 
marches,  at  least  in  the  infantry,  expressly  prohibited. 

Of  other  liquids  carried  in  the  flask,  coffee,  the  standard  drink 
of  the  marching  soldier,  should  be  considered ;  but  the  stains  created 
by  it  (amounting  to  the  size  of  a  pin  head  after  24  hours)  are 
so  inconsiderable  that  all  practical  objection  will  disappear  when  it 
is  considered  that  the  coffee,  which  in  itself  is  not  entirely  clear, 
does  not  lose  its  taste  and  is  generally  kept  in  the  flask  for  a  much 
shorter  period. 

Another  kind  of  stains  of  whitish  color  in  aluminum  field  flasks 
must  be  considered.  They  are  caused  by  leaving  water  standing 
quiet  in  an  aluminum  vessel  for  any  length  of  time. 

Although  the  resistance  of  the  metal  to  the  action  of  the  water, — 
and  especially  of  distilled  w7ater, — is  undoubted,  yet  weak  solutions  of 
salt,  which  are  contained  in  most  of  our  drinking  waters,  bring 
about   the   above    mentioned    phenomenon,   after    the    water     has 
remained  in  the  vessels  for  hours. 

These  stains  resemble  the  brandy  stains  to  a  great  extent,  but 
are  of  a  lighter  color,  being  yellowish-white,  and  feel  firm  and 
sandy,  while  the  cognac  stains  are  of  an  even,  loose  or  spongy 
nature. 

Those  whitish  stains  also  appear  much  slower,  generally  not 
after  several  days. 

********* 

So  far  as  the  question  of  economy  is  concerned,  it  is  to  be  em- 
phasized that  the  aluminum  field  flasks  during  these  many  and 
varied  tests  and  experiments,  continued  for  months,  including  their 
being  placed  in  incubators  and  shaking  apparatus  (the  latter  imi- 
tating the  movement  of  a  marching  soldier),  have  shown  them- 
selves as  very  durable  and  strong,  and  that  a  leakage  has  never 
occurred.  Whether,  in  this  respect,  they  will  satisfy  the  demands 
of  field  service,  can  only  be  demonstrated  by  practical  carrying  tests. 
As  the  softness  of  the  metal  facilitates  a  possibility  of  damage 
to  the  flask,  it  is  a  matter  of  importance  that  lately  a  number  of 
sure  methods  of  soldering  aluminum  have  been  found,  which  process, 
as  is  well  known,  was  not  quite  successful  at  first." 


I6O  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

The  Patton  Paint  Company,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  (see  p.  104), 
writes :  "We  have  come  to  a  point  now  where  we  desire  to  get  hold 
of  the  canteen  itself  made  of  wood  and  will  ask  you  to  inform  us 
whether  you  know  of  such  a  canteen  already  made  up.  If  not,  we 
shall  be  obliged  to  have  a  few  made  by  some  wood  working  com- 
pany, as  we  are  now  ready  to  give  the  paint  a  test  on  the  canteen 
as  it  will  be  used  in  service." 

The  Griswold  Manufacturing,  Company,  Erie,  Pa.,  (see  pp. 
48-9),  writes  as  follows:  "In  reply  to  yours  in  regard  to  the  can- 
teen, would  say,  we  had  to  make  several  changes  in  our  pattern, 
which  delayed  us  in  getting  out  the  sample.  We  have  this  all  fin- 
ished, so  we  will  be  able  to  make  castings  to-day  or  to-morrow,  and 
expect  to  be  able  to  send  you  sample  for  your  test  the  very  first  of 
next  week.  We  trust  this  will  not  be  too  late,  and  that  you  will 
hold  your  tests  open  so  you  can  include  our  sample  in  the  same. 
We  know  we  can  be  successful  in  making  a  cast  canteen  all  in  one 
piece,  which  would  certainly  be  much  stronger  than  the  sheet  alum- 
inum one,  and  there  will  be  no  rivets  projecting  through,  which  are 
weak  points,  as  it  soon  corrodes  around  the  rivets.  We  shall  cast 
a  lug  on  the  outside  on  which  to  fasten  the  ring  for  the  strap. 
Trusting  you  can,  therefore,  hold  the  tests  open,  and  assuring  you 
we  will  send  sample  in  a  very  few  days,  we  remain,"  etc. 


Hermann,  Schutte  &  Co.,  Importers  and  General  Commission 
Merchants,  24  and  26  W.  4th  St.,  New  York,  write  as  follows : 

"One  of  our  friends  called  our  attention  to  your  article  in  the 
Aluminum  World  of  March,  1901.  We  understand  from  this  that 
you  take  great  interest  in  aluminum  articles,  especially  canteens  for 
the  U.  S.  Army,  and  as  we  represent  the  largest  manufacturer  in 
the  world  who  makes  a  specialty  of  aluminum  canteens  and  cook- 
ing utensils  for  military  purposes,  having  supplied  all  the  European 
armies  and  still  supplying  them  with  all  they  need  in  this  line,  we 
are  sure  we  could  give  you  some  valuable  information  and  success- 
fully compete  with  any  manufacturer  in  this  line  of  goods.  We 
would  be  only  too  pleased  to  furnish  you  with  "samples  which  you 
might  test  and  also  with  lowest  quotations,  if  you  will  have  the 
kindness  to  inform  us  what  you  may  need  to  make  your  test,  and 
also  give  you  any  other  information  which  might  possibly  interest 
you  and  which  we  are  in  a  position  to  furnish." 

The  above  mentioned  firm — Messrs.  Hormann,  Schutte  &  Co.— 
again  write : — "We  confirm  our  previous  letter  and  have  taken  tin- 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  l6l 

liberty  of  sending  you  a  sample  of  an  aluminum  canteen,  which  we 
just  this  moment  received  from  our  manufacturer. 

'This  canteen  has  heen  drawn  and  pressed  out  of  one  solid  piece 
of  pure  aluminum  plate,  99  per  cent  pure  aluminum. 

"The  mouthpiece  consists  of  two  pressed  parts  to  give  strength 
to  the  neck. 

"In  case  that  this  canteen  should,  in  your  opinion,  not  have  resist- 
ance enough,  it  is  easy  for  the  manufacturer  to  make  them  out  of  a 
heavier  plate  with  a  thicker  wall. 

"The  size,  shape,  etc.,  the  manufacturer  would  be  willing  to  make 
absolutely  in  accordance  with  your  instructions. 

"Kindly  test  this  canteen  thoroughly  and  see  whether  the  same 
would  come  in  every  respect  up  to  your  expectation  and  answer  your 
purpose  thoroughly. 

"We  would  be  much  obliged  to  hear  from  you." 


Messrs.  Herm.  Weissenburger  &  Co.,  Cannstatt  a.  Necker 
write  as  follows : — "We  thank  you  for  your  kind  favor  of  loth 
instant,  but  not  seeing  our  way  to  compete  successfully  with  the 
U.  S.  manufacturers  on  account  of  heavy  duty,  we  have  decided  to 
keep  back,  although  the  order  would  suit  us  very  well. 

"We  have  invented  a  new  helmet,  a  combination  of  Aluminum, 
leather  and  Pegamoid,  light  and  rigid,  perhaps  with  this  article, 
which  we  can  protect  in  the  U.  S.,  we  shall  have  better  luck.  We 
shall  send  you  a  sample  later." 


The  Griswold  Manufacturing  Company,  Erie,  Pa.,  (see  also  pre- 
ceding pages  48-9  and  87),  write  again: — "We  are  shipping  you  by 
American  Express  today,  prepaid,  sample  of  cast  Aluminum  flask. 
We  are  sending  you  this  flask  without  any  cork,  as  we  were  in  a 
great  hurry  to  ship  it  to  you.  Did  not  have  time  to  make  the  metal 
trimmings  and  chain  that  you  would  require  on  the  cork.  These 
small  details  we  can  easily  fix  any  requirements  you  would  want. 

"This  flask  was  tested  with  water  pressure  of  50  pounds  to  the 
square  inch.  It  stood  the  test  all  right,  except  we  bent  out  the  flat 
side  slightly.  Would  say,  this  flat  side  is  a  little  thinner  than  the 
other. 

"This  flask  was  cast  from  just  a  wooden  pattern  and  wood  core 
box.  It  is  difficult  to  hold  the  core  exactly  true.  If  we  should 
make  them  we  would  use  metal  patterns  and  core  boxes,  and  fit 
up  so  they  would  come  exact  even  thickness,  and  we  hope  then  to 
get  them  a  trifle  lighter. 


l62  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

"Of  course,  we  understand  the  flasks  would  have  to  be  furnished 
with  felt  or  cloth  covering,  we  presume  also  the  chains  and  straps, 
but  our  idea  in  sending  you  this  bare  sample  is  to  get  your  opinion 
whether  a  cast  flask  is  practical,  and  if  there  would  be  any  chance 
of  it  being  adopted.  If  so,  we  stand  ready  to  go  ahead  at  once  and 
get  up  a  more  perfect  sample,  equipped  with  all  details,  coverings,  etc. 

"This  flask,  of  course,  is  heavier  than  one  made  of  sheet  alumi- 
num, and  we  did  not  know  but  the  weight  would  be  against  it.  On 
the  other  hand,  it  is  a  good  deal  stronger,  and  there  are  no  rivets 
through  the  same  where  the  chains  are  fastened  on,  which  is  a  very 
weak  point  on  a  sheet  aluminum  flask,  as  the  water  will  immediately 
begin  to  corrode  around  the  rivet  heads. 

"Also,  there  are  no  joints  or  soldered  places  in  the  flask.  We 
trust  this  will  reach  you  in  time  for  you  to  include  it  in  your  report, 
and  we  await  with  interest  your  reply. 

"We  stand  ready  to  make  any  changes,  and  to  furnish  you  with 
completely  fitted  up  sample,  as  you  may  request. 

"We  also  believe  this  flask  is  a  little  larger  than  the  regulation 
requirements." 


The  Indian  Aluminum  Company,  Limited,  Madras,  British  In- 
dia, (see  page  77),  writes  again  as  follows: — "Since  the  dispatch  of 
our  letter  of  the  2ist  ultimo,  we  have  received  the  copy  of  the 
Aluminum  World  for  March  and  have  read  with  much  interest  your 
letter,  wherein  we  note  that  the  articles  submitted  to  you  for  test 
are  experimented  with  until  they  are  practically  destroyed.  We 
cannot  claim  that  our  water  bottles  are  indestructible,  but  we  cor- 
dially invite  the  severest  test  and  we  feel  sure  that  in  the  matter  of 
strength  and  durability  our  goods  will  compare  most  favorably 
with  those  manufactured  anywhere  else.  We  also  note  your  sugges- 
tion that  naked  flasks  should  not  be  sent  to  you,  but  here  we  would 
point  out  that  any  covering  that  we  could  put  on  them  would  have 
to  be  imported  by  us,  and  this  would  materially  add  to  the  cost, 
whereas  should  you  decide  to  place  an  order  with  us  we  have  no 
doubt  that  some  firm  in  America  would  undertake  the  cover  with 
material  to  be  approved  of  by  you.  As  it  has  occurred  to  us  that  the 
sample  we  sent  you  was  rather  small,  we  are  now  sending  you  a 
second  bottle,  to  contain  three  pints." 


The  real  way  to  find  out  the  merits  of  a  canteen  is  to  carry  it 
and  depend  upon  it  for  the  fluids  that  you  drink. 

The  man  who  carries  the  canteen  is  usuallv  indfferent  as  to  its 


HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN.  163 

material  or  construction  and  ignorant  as  to  its  theories,  principles, 
or  components.  He  is  a  judge  of  results,  though,  just  as  a  marks- 
man knows  what  the  effectiveness  of  his  rifle  is,  when  he  has  become 
accustomed  to  the  practical  use  of  the  firearm.  The  average  man  is 
more  interested  in  what  the  canteen  does  than  in  what  it  is.  He 
has  no  reliable  means  of  proving  what  it  is,  but  he  needs  no  advice 
to  tell  him  what  it  does.  He  makes  no  experiments  or  comparative 
tests ;  he  has  no  opportunity  to  do  so.  He  accepts  the  canteen  issued 
to  him  as  the  best  type  and  product  of  its  class.  He  knows  that 
water  from  the  Regulation  Canteen  may  be  usable  without  being 
relishable  or  palatable.  If  given  a  chance  to  test  the  Regulation 
Canteen  with  the  Lanz  Canteen,  it  is  believed  the  veteran  would 
pronounce  the  latter  a  success.  Until  the  arc-electric  or  incandes- 
cent electric  lights  came  we. never  knew  what  flying  animals  were 
in  the  air,  but  we  then  found  myriads  of  strange  bugs  immolated 
beneath  the  lights.  Just  as  illuminating  gas  was  superseded  by  the 
electric  light,  an  improvement  is  demanded  in  the  shape,  construc- 
tion and  material  of  the  Regulation  Canteen. 

There  are  two  ways  in  which  to  fully  and  impartially  consider 
the  merits  of  any  article  of  equipment  intended  for  a  soldier's  use. 

One  preliminary  way  is  to  master  in  a  workmanlike  wise  the 
practical  details  of  its  materials,  construction,  and  principles  in- 
volved. 

The  other  way  is  to  assume  in  postulatory  kind  of  wise  that 
certain  results  will  follow  a  certain  theory  or  conception. 

But  these  reasoning  processes  or  conclusions  are  sometimes 
proved  untenable,  or  erroneous,  by  practical  demonstrations.  When 
these  presumed  conclusions  are  upset  by  the  results  of  practical 
test,  experiment  or  trial,  the  winner  is  entitled  to  the  benefit.  In 
these  canteen  tests  something  more  than  tentative  methods  have 
been  practised.  Every  canteen  has  been  placed  on  trial,  and  judg- 
ment and  recommendations  succeeded,  not  preceded,  the  trial.  The 
conclusion  is  that  the  Lanz  method  is  the  best  type  for  the  military 
service.  An  opinion  to  the  contrary  expressed  by  any  one  who 
has  not  practically  and  thoroughly  tested  all  of  the  devices,  but 
entrenches  himself  behind  an  opinion  as  a  fortress,  is  not  entitled  to 
weight. 

Human  labor  cannot  supply  what  nature  has  denied,  but  can 
simulate  it.  A  good  canteen  is  a  necessity  for  which  a  soldier  in 
the  field  would  willingly  exchange  such  luxuries  in  life  as  clothing, 
tobacco  and  solid  food— particularly  if  he  is  a  hunter  who  has 


164  HISTORY    OF    THE    MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

drank  from  cool  springs  of  icy  water  hidden  away  in  dark  crevices 
in  glades  where  shadows  are  never  broken  by  the  sun. 

The  ways  in  which  the  Regulation  Canteen  may  be  made  the 
vehicle  for  the  transportation  of  an  impure  water  supply  are  shown, 
in  part,  in  the  quoted  letter  from  Mr.  Joseph  A.  Steinmetz. 

Outbreaks  of  malarial  fever  have  followed  the  use  of  impure 
water.  The  Regulation  Canteen  aids  .to  spread  infection,  because, 
as  a  water  carrier,  it  can  carry  the  germs  of  fever.,  and  because  of 
the  practical  impossibility  of  sterilizing  its  contents  by  the  soldier  in 
the  field. 

The  substitution  of  a  canteen  differing  in  material,  construction 
and  shape,  would  partly  obviate  these  dangers. 

The  Patton  Paint  Company,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  (see  p.  104), 
writes  again  as  follows: — "Canteens  of  wood,  if  they  can  be 
rendered  absolutely  impervious  to  w7ater  and  so  treated  that  they 
will  give  no  taste  to  liquids  which  they  hold,  will  be  found  more 
satisfactory  than  canteens  made  of  metal  or  of  any  composition 
which  would  be  practicable  for  service. 

"We  are  conducting  a  series  of  experiments  which  lead  us  to  be- 
lieve that  we  have  found  a  process  of  treating  wood  in  such  a  way 
that  a  canteen  turned  out  of  a  solid  block  can  be  coated  on  the  inside 
with  our  special  preservative  paint  and  will  resist  the  action  of  water, 
tea  and  coffee,  giving  no  taste,  and  holding  at  an  equable  tempera- 
ture any  liquid  which  a  soldier  would  be  using  in  active  service. 

"These  experiments,  while  they  convince  us  of  the  possibility  of 
fulfilling  all  the  conditions  to  be  met  in  actual  use,  will  need  some 
six  months  longer  to  enable  us  to  guarantee  the  permanency  of  re- 
sults which  must  be  obtained  if  we  are  to  back  our  statements  with 
the  reputation  of  the  Patton  Paint  Company. 

"The  advantages  of  wood  for  holding  water  are  obvious.  Wood 
is  among  the  best  non-conductors  of  heat.  It  is  stiff  and  hard,  hav- 
ing considerable  strength  for  resisting  strains,  blows  and  jars,  with 
sufficient  elasticity  to  resume  its  shape  after  undergoing  almost  any 
treatment  but  that  of  being  crushed  or  broken. 

"In  tropical  climates  wood  canteens  will  be  found  to  keep  the 
water  and  other  potable  liquids  at  a  lower  temperature  for  a  longer 
time  than  tin,  iron,  or  any  other  metal  (whether  enameled  or  other- 
wise). 

"In  resistance  to  cold,  wood'  has  equally  high  efficiency.  It  will 
withstand  the  freezing  temperature  better  than  any  other  substance 
of  which  canteens  could  be  made. 

"The  only  objection  to  the  use  of  wood  for  making  canteens  is 


HISTORY  OK  THK   .UIUTARY  CAXTEEN.  165 

lliat  it  is  affected  by  the  liquids  that  it  contains.  All  liquids  contain- 
ing water  permeate  the  pores  of  natural  wood  and  under  this  influ- 
ence the  fibers  rapidly  undergo  deterioration.  The  wood  decom- 
poses slightly  if  it  has  no  chance  to  dry  out  and  soon  begins  to 
taste  cf  organic  matter.  After  continued  use,  unless  it  is  frequently 
washed  and  sterilized,  the  taste  of  the  liquid  contained  becomes  so 
unpalatable  and  the  odor  so  unbearable  that  the  wooden  vessel  must 
be  discarded.  «- 

"In  the  special  paint  which  we  are  making  for  covering  the  inside 
of  wood  canteens  w^e  claim  that  we  have  obviated  all  the  difficulties 
which  could  be  urged  against  the  making  of  canteens  from  wood, 
and  that  we  have  retained  all  the  advantages  of  the  wood  canteen 
and  also  those  of  an  iron  canteen  which  is  enameled. 

"The  wood  with  changes  of  temperature  will  not  expand  and 
contract  as  iron  does,  to  the  extent  of  chipping  and  cracking  the 
coating. 

"In  other  respects  the  wood  canteen,  with  inside  coating  of  our 
enamel  paint  specially  prepared  for  this  purpose,  will  answer  all  the 
requirements  of  an  enameled  metal  canteen  and  will  at  the  same 
time  preserve  all  the  advantages  of  the  old-time  wooden  vessel. 

"This  paint  will  be  found  to  be  absolutely  impervious  to  water. 
Tea  and  coffee  will  not  affect  it,  and  liquids  used  in  it  will  not  taste 
as  they  would  of  an  ordinary  paint.  A  beverage  containing  a  small 
amount  of  alcohol  will  do  it  no  harm.  The  paint  will  stand  any 
temperature  from  150  degrees  F.  to  far  below  the  freezing  point. 
The  paint  which  we  have  recommended  for  this  purpose  we  have 
carefully  prepared  to  withstand  any  possible  changes  to  which  a 
canteen  would  be  subject  in  the  army  service,  from  Arctic  to  tropical 
climates. 

"Hot  tea  and  coffee  could  be  poured  into  this  canteen  and  would 
not  affect  it  adversely  unless  kept  for  a  long  time  at  a  temperature 
exceeding  150  degrees. 

"In  fact,  where  a  soldier  can  stand  the  exposure,  either  to  heat 
or  cold,  this  canteen  can  be  used,  we  believe,  with  perfect  satisfac- 
tion. 

"We  shall  be  glad,  if  this  matter  is  taken  up  in  future,  to  submit 
to  yon  the  results  of  our  experiments  in  this  line,  and  shall  hope  to 
see  the  wooden  canteen  adopted  in  the  United  States  Army." 

Mr.  E.  Dederick,  of  2016  Cherry  St.,  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  writes: — 
"I  read  in  the  Milwaukee  Sentinel  that  you  are  trying  to  arrange 
for  a  preparation  for  lining  the  inside  of  a  wooden  canteen.  I  have 
a  preparation  which  when  applied  either  to  wood  or  iron  forms  a 


l66  HISTORY    OF    Till: 'MILITARY    CANTEEN. 

coating  like  stone;  this  can  be  made  any  color  except  white;  its 
natural  color  is  slate.  I  have  it  in  refrigerator  boxes,  where  it  has 
been  used  for  the  last  seven  years  and  is  as  good  now  as  when 
first  put  on.  It  can  be  used  for  a  great  many  things  :  covering  for 
refrigerator  pipes,  to  keep  them  from  corroding;  lining  between 
double  floors  to  keep  them  from  leaking ;  also  on  vats  that  are  liable 
to  leak  a  coating  of  this  does  the  business. 

"If  this  should  interest  you,  if  you  write  me  I  will  send  you  some 
samples  on  wood  and  iron  and  you  can  test  them/' 

The  Patton  Paint  Company,  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  writes  again 
as  follows : — "The  basis  of  my  argument  in  favor  of  the  paint  which 
we  recommend  for  wood  canteens  rests  upon  the  fact  that  the  paint 
is  applied  to  wood  rather  than  to  any  metal  surface.  If  the  same 
paint  were  applied  to  metal,  it  would  act  in  much  the  same  way  as 
enameled  metal-ware  acts.  It  would  chip,  crack  and  scale  with  the 
expansion  and  shrinkage  of  the  metallic  surface  upon  which  the. 
enamel  is  baked. 

"The  great  weakness  of  all  enameled  metal-ware  is  the  fact  that 
the  enamel  is  applied  to  a  substance  which  has  a  much  larger  co- 
efriciency  of  expansion  than  a  substance  which,  like  wood,  is  com- 
posed of  fibers  brought  together  and  amalgamated  under  the  law  of 
growth  and  which  has  therefore  intercellular  spaces  which  take  up 
the  larger  portion  of  motion  that  would  ensue  upon  expansion  of  the 
fibers  and  therefore  expand,  when  they  do  so,  more  slowly  than  the 
metal,  which,  from  its  lack  of  intercellular  spaces,  must  at  once  yield 
to  the  force  acting  upon  it  in  either  enlarging  or  reducing  the 
molecular  orbit. 

"The  immediate  result  of  the  chipping  and  cracking  of  the  en- 
amel is  that  the  liquid  is  admitted  to  immediate  action  upon  the 
metal,  which  oxidizes  and  permits  still  further  disintegration  of  the 
enamel,  which  in  this  way  starts  the  process  of  undermining  the 
enamel  covering,  so  that  chips  are  set  free  and  small  and  large 
quantities  are  allowed  to  escape  with  the  water,  to  be  swallowed  by 
the  soldier. 

"Serious  trouble  could  arise  in  the  way  of  poisoning  if  the  enamel 
were  composed,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  of  white  lead,  which  is 
more  or  less  soluble,  and  which  might  easily  affect  the  soldier,  inde- 
pendent of  the  swallowing  of  small  particles  or  chips  loosened  from 
the  enamel  covering. 

"The  excessive  weight  of  enameled  metal  as  compared  with  can- 
teens made  from  wood,  aluminum  or  tin,  does  not  come  so  much  from 


HISTORY    OF    THE    M.IL1TARV    CANTEEN.  l6/ 

the  enamel  itself,  as  from  the  weight  of  the  metal  upun  which  it  is 
super-imposed." 

1  am  indebted  to  the  Western  Felt  Works,  787  to  797  South 
Canal  St.,  Chicago,  Ills.,  for  the  formula  and  the  process  methods 
of  a  test  for  determining  the  amount  of  wool  in  felt,  or  any  wool, 
or  part  wool,  fabric. 

It  should  be  known  to  every  inspector  of  covered  canteen  flasks, 
or  of  woolen  clothing  or  material  furnished  for  the  use  of  the  com- 
batant land  or  naval  forces  of  the  United  States. 

In  courtesy  to  the  company  the  test  cannot  here  be  given. 

Sponge  belongs  to  the  vegetable  kingdom.  Mixed  with  an  ani- 
mal product — wool — the  resultant  compound — sponge-felt — may  be 
open  to  some  objections ;  perhaps  resembling  those  found,  prac- 
tically, by  the  French  navy  when  cellulose,  composed  of  the  ground 
fibre  of  the  cocoanut,  was  tried,  in  compressed  form — briquettes — 
to  close  the  openings  made  and  prevent  the  inflow  of  water,  even 
if  penetrated  by  projectiles — the  protection  of  buoyancy  method, 
so  called. 

As  sponge  grows  in  the  water,  and  is  used  wet,  it  is  at  its  best 
when  wet ;  should  be  offered  for  sale  wet.  Sponges,  when  dry,  are 
hard,  rough  and  easily  torn ;  when  wet,  sponges  are  much  less  easily 
torn.  The  difference  between  sponge  and  fish-glue  and  gelatine 
in  dried  and  soaked  state  applies  to  sponges. 

The  strongest  sponge  is  easily  torn  by  pulling  across  the  grain. 
The  fair  test  is  with  the  grain — everything  has  a  grain.  Wooden 
columns  support  buildings  when  placed  with,  or  along,  the  grain,  but 
wood  across  the  grain  can  easily  be  broken. 


'WE'VE  DRUNK  FROM  THE   SAME  CANTEEN. 
BY  MILES  O'REILLY. 

There  are  bonds  of  all  sorts  in  this  world  of  ours : 
Fetters  'of  friendship,  and  ties  of  flowers, 

And  true  lovers'  knots,  I  ween. 
The  boy  and  the  girl  are  bound  by  a  kiss, 
But  there's  never  a  bond,  old  friend,  like  this, 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 

CHORUS. 
The  same  canteen,  my  soldier  friend, 

The  same  canteen; 
There's  never  a  bond,  old  friend,  like  this, 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 


l68  HISTORY    OF    TIN-:    MILITARY    ( "ANTEEN. 

It  was  sometimes  \\UUT,  and  sumctiincs  milk, 
SomctiiiK's  apple-jack,  fine  as  silk: 

lint  whatever  the  tipple  has  been, 
\Ye  shared  it  together  in  bane  or  bliss, 
And  I  warm  to  yon,  friend,  when  I  think  of  this, 

\Ye  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 

The  rich  and  the  great  sit  down  to  dine, 
And  quaff  to  each  other  in  sparkling  wine. 

From  glasses  of  crystal  and  green  ; 
But  I  guess  in  their  golden  potations  they  miss 
The  warmth  of  regard  to  be  found  in  this, 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 

We've  shared  our  blankets  and  tent  together, 
And  marched,  and  fought,  in  all  kinds  of  weather, 

And  hungry,  and  full,  we've  been. 
Had  days  of  battle,  and  days  of  rest, 
But  this  mem'ry  I  cling  to,  and  love  the  best, 

We  have  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 

For  when  wounded  I  lay  on  the  outer  slope, 
With  my  blood  flowing  fast,  and  with  little  hope, 

On  which  my  faint  spirit  might  lean, 
Oh,  then  I  remember,  you  crawl'd  to  my  side, 
And  bleeding  so  fast,  it  seemed  both  must  have  died, 

We  drunk  from  the  same  canteen. 


Upon  the  recommendation  of  the  Inspector  General,  U.  S. 
Army,  the  publication  of  the  foregoing  report  was  authorized  by 
the  Honorable,  the  Secretary  of  War,  under  date  of  27th  April,  TQOT. 


Lieut. -Colonel  &  Inspector  General,  U.  S.  V 

(Major  4th  U.  S.  Infantry), 
Inspector  General,  Dept  Dakota. 


YC  03038 


